Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-02-26-Speech-4-021"
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"en.20040226.1.4-021"2
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"Mr President, it is a positive move that the General Affairs Council signalled collectively that the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Russia should automatically extend to cover the new Member States. There is no reason to have separate negotiations on that. If there are problems in economic and trade relations between the enlarged Union and Russia they can then be discussed separately between the Union and Russia.
Russia is the EU’s most important neighbour. It is in the interests of both the Union and Russia that relations between them develop favourably in all areas of life. Furthermore, we must be able to discuss sensitive issues such as human rights. We must ensure that the Union is consistent in its policy on Russia and that in Russia they understand that the EU cannot be split politically. From the beginning of May, the Baltic countries that join the EU will form just as solid a part of the Union as the old Member States. Their condition for membership was fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria regarding such matters as human rights and the rights of minorities. These conditions have been met. Moreover, Russia is committed to compliance with human rights as a member of the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe and the Council of Europe. It is very important that there are assurances that the work of the OCSE in Chechnya can proceed.
Strategic cooperation based on common values has been spoken of with regard to relations between the EU and Russia. Perhaps such grand-sounding aims should move a step closer to something a bit more concrete. There are good grounds for that, too, as the EU will account for 55% of Russia’s foreign trade. The EU needs oil and natural gas so there is a need for cooperation on energy to be developed. The environment must play a part in that, whether it is a matter of energy production or its transportation.
One of the areas of cooperation mentioned at the St Petersburg Summit was research, education and culture. I am a firm supporter of more exchange programmes for researchers, teachers and students and cooperation between educational institutions. If we are to build sustainable cooperation our citizens will need to network with one another. Here too we will have to provide young people with the right facilities and opportunities. They cannot bear the burden of a divided world."@en1
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