Brussels - European heads of state will try at an informal meeting in Lahti, Finland, on October 20 to advance energy talks with Russia and to form a network of European energy correspondents, in order to tackle potential external energy crises.
On the agenda of the Lahti Summit will be external energy relations, as well as the essence of Europe-Russia relations and the European innovation policy.
The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement(PCA) between the European Union and Russia is being re-assessed as it reaches its tenth anniversary in 2007.
At the center of the attention will be Russian President Vladimir Putin, when he joins European leaders for a dinner at the conclusion of the one day summit.
According to the Finnish Presidency, the discussion will focus on strategic partnership between the European Union and Russia that includes cooperation on energy issues.
The success or the failure of the summit will depend on the European ability to speak in one voice on energy as well as human rights issues.
But, European diplomats in Brussels expressed their fear that the summit in Lahti could become a show of European disunity in regard to its relations with Russia.
The sources said that the summit might show twenty-five European leaders chasing the Russian skirt, trying to promote their national interests, providing the Russian President with the proof that the European Union is unable to act as a single powerhouse at negotiations with the Russians.
This summit is not going to bridge over the differences among the E.U. member states.
Time and again, Russia has, in the past, proven that it knows how to exploit European divisions.
Russia has signed bilateral gas deals with several European countries.
Germany has been criticised for its bilateral agreement with Russia to build a gas pipeline under the Baltic.
New member states from Eastern Europe favor a much tougher stand towards Russia.
Finland is likely to raise the matter of tensions between Russia and Georgia, as well as the subject of the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya.
The European Union has been alarmed about the resurgence of Russian nationalism and there are growing worries about European dependency on Russian gas and oil.
European diplomats, have said that President Putin would not accept criticism of Russia and would not take lectures from the Europeans in regard to human rights and underlined that these subjects will lead to a "very lively" discussion with the Europeans.
The European vision of democracy differs from Russia's understanding of the term.
Europe will also press for a binding agreement with Russia but the chances are very slim that the Russians will agree.
In addition to the Russian subject, the summit will also deal with extending energy relations with other countries like Norway and Ukraine, as well as the inclusion of Turkey in the Energy Community Treaty.
Furthermore, the European heads of state will also deal with financial instruments to develop energy relations with partner countries, on infrastructure interconnections, new pipelines, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
Please also see:
Putin and the murder of Anna Politkovskaya
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/oct2006/jour-o19.shtml
Chechnya Clouds Reporter Execution
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2668&blz=1
IFJ Says Killing of Politkovskaya an 'Outrage That Will Stun World Journalism'
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2657&blz=1
On the agenda of the Lahti Summit will be external energy relations, as well as the essence of Europe-Russia relations and the European innovation policy.
The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement(PCA) between the European Union and Russia is being re-assessed as it reaches its tenth anniversary in 2007.
At the center of the attention will be Russian President Vladimir Putin, when he joins European leaders for a dinner at the conclusion of the one day summit.
According to the Finnish Presidency, the discussion will focus on strategic partnership between the European Union and Russia that includes cooperation on energy issues.
The success or the failure of the summit will depend on the European ability to speak in one voice on energy as well as human rights issues.
But, European diplomats in Brussels expressed their fear that the summit in Lahti could become a show of European disunity in regard to its relations with Russia.
The sources said that the summit might show twenty-five European leaders chasing the Russian skirt, trying to promote their national interests, providing the Russian President with the proof that the European Union is unable to act as a single powerhouse at negotiations with the Russians.
This summit is not going to bridge over the differences among the E.U. member states.
Time and again, Russia has, in the past, proven that it knows how to exploit European divisions.
Russia has signed bilateral gas deals with several European countries.
Germany has been criticised for its bilateral agreement with Russia to build a gas pipeline under the Baltic.
New member states from Eastern Europe favor a much tougher stand towards Russia.
Finland is likely to raise the matter of tensions between Russia and Georgia, as well as the subject of the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya.
The European Union has been alarmed about the resurgence of Russian nationalism and there are growing worries about European dependency on Russian gas and oil.
European diplomats, have said that President Putin would not accept criticism of Russia and would not take lectures from the Europeans in regard to human rights and underlined that these subjects will lead to a "very lively" discussion with the Europeans.
The European vision of democracy differs from Russia's understanding of the term.
Europe will also press for a binding agreement with Russia but the chances are very slim that the Russians will agree.
In addition to the Russian subject, the summit will also deal with extending energy relations with other countries like Norway and Ukraine, as well as the inclusion of Turkey in the Energy Community Treaty.
Furthermore, the European heads of state will also deal with financial instruments to develop energy relations with partner countries, on infrastructure interconnections, new pipelines, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
Please also see:
Putin and the murder of Anna Politkovskaya
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/oct2006/jour-o19.shtml
Chechnya Clouds Reporter Execution
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2668&blz=1
IFJ Says Killing of Politkovskaya an 'Outrage That Will Stun World Journalism'
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2657&blz=1