World | Other World Stories
EU approves mandate for talks on new Russia deal
The European Union approved a negotiating mandate for a new partnership agreement with Russia on Monday after months of internal wrangling and the EU Presidency hoped a deal could be in place in two years.
- Reuters
- Published: 00:06 May 27, 2008
Brussels: The European Union approved a negotiating mandate for a new partnership agreement with Russia on Monday after months of internal wrangling and the EU Presidency hoped a deal could be in place in two years.
Others predicted that the broad deal Brussels wants on political and economic ties, including energy and trade, could take much longer to agree and EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner warned talks would be long and complex.
EU foreign ministers endorsed the mandate after 18 months of objections from the bloc's ex-communist members, most recently by Lithuania which had raised concerns over Russia's role in "frozen conflicts" in some of the ex-Soviet republics.
New partnership
The EU hopes now to launch talks with Russia on the new partnership at a June 26-27 summit in Siberia.
Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, who pushed hard to get an agreement allaying Lithuania's concerns, was optimistic.
"Negotiations will start I hope now in June. How long will they take? I think around a year. How long will it take to ratify? I don't know, I hope another year, or I presume another year," he said. "We are not in front of some quick fix," he cautioned to reporters, "but indeed the process has started and we should be able within the process of negotiations to clarify all the problems that exist between EU and the Russian Federation."
"It [the future deal] should finally provide some legally binding commitments in all main areas," Ferrero-Waldner told reporters.
She said it should cover the economy, trade, internal and external security issues, research, education and culture and industry deals in areas such as energy, in which Russia is a crucial supplier for many EU states.
Share this article
News Editor's choice
-
Mayweather Sr attacks Pacman's technique
Floyd Mayweather Sr says Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao can't fight at all
-
Graham 'honoured to host' Palin for dinner
'America's pastor' had never met the former Alaska governor
-
Run-off to decide Romania president
New man in office vital to clinching much-needed IMF bailout loan
