Official website of the President of Russia

October 30, 2000

Paris

We have reaffirmed our attachment to forging closer relations of dialogue and cooperation between the Russian Federation and the European Union on political and security matters in Europe.

The conditions are favourable: the European Union is equipping itself to play its full role on the international stage, in particular by establishing a European security and defence policy; the Russian Federation is engaged in internal reforms in order to consolidate the democratic rule of law and the modernisation of its economy.

We have welcomed the development of the strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the European Union in 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.

At this sixth European Union-Russia Summit, we were glad to note the development of all aspects of the relationship between the European Union and Russia since the Moscow meeting on 29 May.

We discussed ways of strengthening dialogue and cooperation between the European Union and the Russian Federation in the field of security and defence henceforward.

We expressed our shared determination to contribute to international peace and security in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the principles of the OSCE Helsinki Final Act, and with the objectives of the Charter for a New Europe and of the Charter for European Security.

In order to give substance to the strategic partnership between the European Union and the Russian Federation, and in view of our common interest in security and stability on the European continent, we decided to: 
– institute specific consultations on security and defence matters at the appropriate level and in the appropriate format; 
– develop strategic dialogue on matters, particularly in regard to security, which have implications for the Russian Federation and the 
European Union; 
– extend the scope of regular consultations at expert level on the issues of disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation; 
– promote cooperation in operational crisis management.

On the basis of the initial proposals which will be presented at the Nice European Council to enable potential partners in the operations to contribute, we will examine mechanisms for contribution by the Russian Federation to the European Union's crisis management operations. In the context of preparations for the next European Union-Russia Summit, we will draw up proposals designed to give substance to our cooperation. We will also examine possibilities for a contribution by the Russian Federation to the implementation of civilian crisis management instruments.

The implementation of these decisions will be a priority between now and the next Summit.