Official website of the President of Russia

October 30, 2000

Paris

We, the leaders of the European Union and the Russian Federation, meeting in Paris for the sixth summit since the entry into force of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), reaffirm the particular importance we attach to strengthening our strategic partnership, based on the principles of democracy, respect for human rights, the rule of law and the market economy.

The policy of reforms instituted in Russia heralds the beginning of a new stage in its development which the French Presidency’s work programme aims to support. The implementation of these reforms will contribute to the development of our relations. The EU has reaffirmed its willingness to bolster this process, based on the PCA and on its common strategy on Russia. The primary objective of this cooperation, which is entering into a new phase, will be to support the institutional, economic and social reforms, with a view to strengthening the rule of law and meeting the democratic requirements of a modern economy and society. The TACIS programme in particular will be geared towards this goal, in consultation with the Russian authorities.

We welcome the development of the partnership between the European Union and theRussian Federation during recent years, on the basis of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement(PCA), the Common Strategy of the European Union on Russia, and the Russian Federation's Medium-term Strategy for developing relations with the European Union. Furthermore,

we recognise the importance of rigorous implementation of the PCA, particularly in the economic and social spheres.

The approximation of legislation and a transparent and stable legal framework will help to facilitate our trade relations. The Union welcomes the fact that the Russian authorities have drawn up an economic programme intended to promote investment in Russia and which should enable further progress in this key area of our cooperation. The EU’s technical assistance will be continued in this respect. The two sides will continue their efforts, particularly under the PCA, with a view to improving investment opportunities.

The recent meeting in Moscow of a round table of Russian and European industrialists also made it possible to identify opportunities for investment and trade which need to be maximised.

We regard Russia’s speedy accession to the WTO as a matter of priority. The EU will continue to provide technical assistance in this context. The EU and Russia have agreed on the need to step up the work in progress in Geneva and, in particular, their bilateral negotiations on the conditions of access to markets in industrial products and services, on the basis of new offers to be submitted by Russia in the near future. The EU and Russia welcome the fact that a conference will be held in Moscow at the end of March 2001 on Russia’s accession to the WTO.

The European Union and Russia have decided to institute, on a regular basis, an energy dialogue which will enable progress to be made in the definition of an EU-Russia energy partnership and arrangements for it. This will provide an opportunity to raise all the questions of common interest relating to the sector, including the introduction of cooperation on energy saving, rationalisation of production and transport infrastructures, European investment possibilities, and relations between producer and consumer countries. The planned ratification of the Energy Charter Treaty by Russia and the improvement of the investment climate will be important aspects in this context.

We consider that priority must be given to the synergy between the research capabilities of Russia and the Union as the driving force behind economic and social development. It is for this reason that we welcome the forthcoming signing of the EU-Russia Cooperation Agreement in the field of science and technology. The sides recognise the importance they attach to pursuing the

cooperation initiated between the Russian and European satellite navigation systems (GLONASS/GALILEO).

We would like the Conference on Climate Change in The Hague to be a success, with a view to speedy entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. Implementation of this Protocol will enable the EU and Russia to strengthen their cooperation in the fields of energy and industry and to lend their contribution to implementing the objectives of the Kyoto Protocol.

We have expressed our desire to strengthen regional and cross-border cooperation, particularly as part of the EU’s Northern Dimension. In this context, we have discussed nuclear safety and the management of irradiated waste and fuels. We have agreed that the prompt conclusion of the negotiations under way on the Multilateral Nuclear and Environment Program (MNEPR) in the Russian Federation is of crucial importance in enabling us to progress with cooperation in this area.

We attach particular importance to cooperation in the field of Justice and Home Affairs.

We have discussed and condemned terrorism in all its forms.

After taking stock of implementation of the action plan to combat organised crime, we felt it necessary to step up our efforts in this area. We stressed the importance of cooperation on consular and visa matters.

The EU informed Russia of the enlargement process which, since the European Council in Helsinki, has moved up a gear. Our shared objective is to maximise the potential of EUenlargement in order to boost exchanges between an enlarged European Union and Russia and between Russia and the applicant countries. The dialogue already under way with Russia on this matter will be continued in the appropriate PCA bodies, attaching particular importance to Kaliningrad.

With regard to Chechnya, we agreed upon the need to seek a political solution as a matter of urgency, with due regard for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Russian Federation.

We welcome the progress achieved in the common European security and defence policy, the objective of which is to contribute effectively to crisis management in compliance with United Nations principles. We also welcome the progress achieved in dialogue and cooperation between the EU and the Russian Federation on political and security issues in Europe. At this Summit we have decided to undertake specific initiatives with a view to strengthening our cooperation in this area. These initiatives appear in a specific declaration.

The Russian Federation and the European Union remain extremely concerned by the grave situation currently prevailing in the Palestinian territories. The Russian Federation and the European Union repeat their call for all sides to make every effort to end the violence and implement the measures which they have agreed for this purpose. The continuation of clashes offers no prospects and the use of armed force is not a solution. During this critical period, it is essential that a sense of responsibility should prevail and dialogue be resumed as soon as possible in order to restore confidence and get back on the road to peace. Based on the strategic partnership developing between them, the Russian Federation and the European Union intend to work together to promote the quest for an overall and lasting settlement in the Middle East, in application of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, and the agreements concluded and principles adopted at the Madrid Conference. The Russian Federation and the European Union confirm their willingness to cooperate with all sides involved in establishing a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

We welcome the change in the FRY and call for the process of democratisation to continue. Events in recent weeks have shown that the people have opted clearly for change. The new President of the FRY embodies the people’s aspirations for the construction of the democratic rule of law and the FRY’s return to the fold of European nations. We will continue to combine our efforts to contribute to the consolidation of democracy in the FRY. We express our support for the full participation of the FRY in international institutions and particularly for its speedy and unhindered admission into the United Nations Organisation. A democratic FRY opens the way for regional reconciliation and cooperation.

We reaffirm our determination to apply in full UN Security Council Resolution 1244. The municipal elections in Kosovo mark a stage at which we reaffirm the need to establish a democratic and multi-ethnic society in Kosovo. We reaffirm our support for UNMIK’s efforts to attain the objectives set in UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and we urge all sides to cooperate fully with it. Stability, peace and prosperity in Kosovo depend on respect for human rights, the rule of law and democracy.

We call for a more active search for solutions to the regional disputes in the SouthernCaucasus under the current negotiations formats. The political will of all parties is an essential prerequisite for progress in settling these disputes.

The quality and openness of the discussions which we have held as part of this sixth EU-Russia summit reflect our shared determination to provide, by strengthening our strategic partnership, a substantial contribution to peace, stability and prosperity in Europe as a whole, in order to help us respond to our common challenges.