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A. Official Documents and Declarations       I. Background      II. Areas of co-operation      III. Other issues relevant to security B. Speeches C. Research Studies  D. Parliamentary Reports  E. Basic Policy Documents of the Russian Federation

Deutschsprachige Version

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A. Official Documents and Declarations

I. Background 

The legal framework for co-operation between the European Union and Russia was established with the signing of the Agreement on Partnership and Co-operation in 1994, which entered into force on 1 December 1997. While this Treaty has a clear focus on economic affairs, Title II of the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement includes a provision on political dialogue which also comprises the security field. See also institutional provisions of  Title XI. 

The next major step was the adoption of the Common Strategy of the EU on Russia (in the following referred to as 'the Common Strategy') in the course of the Cologne Summit meeting on 4. June 1999. The first "Common Strategy" adopted under the provisions on the Common Foreign and Security Policy enshrined in Title V of the Amsterdam Treaty, it sets out the objectives that shall govern both the Community's and the individual member states' policies towards this country. This framework document comprises actions in the economic field through the TACIS (Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States) programme as well as in the political domain.

Since the adoption of the Common Strategy, every EU Presidency has presented a work plan for its implementation. The work plans available to the public are the following: 

• Work plan of the Portuguese Presidency for the Implementation of the Common Strategy on Russia, 7 February 2000
• Work plan of the French Presidency for the Implementation of the Common Strategy on Russia, 17 July 2000 

Until the work plan of the Finnish Presidencies is made public, references in the work programme of the Finnish Presidency  can give an idea of its contents. 
The current Swedish Presidency has declared the relations with Russia a priority issue. Click here for the references to Russia in the general Work programme of the Swedish Presidency of 14 December 2000, which singles out five key areas: 

                                         - support for civil society and free opinion forming 
                                         - the environment and nuclear safety/waste 
                                         - the fight against organised crime 
                                         - cooperation in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation 
                                         - integration of Russia into the world economy 
 

• Work plan of the Swedish Presidency for the Implementation of the Common Strategy on Russia, (without date)
• Work plan of the Belgian Presidency for the Implementation of the Common Strategy on Russia, 10 July 2001

Equally, a Council report on the implementation of the Common Strategy has been attached to each Presidency Conclusion adopted since the Cologne Summit. Click here for the Report on the Implementation of the Common Strategy on Russia adopted at the Gotheborg Summit. Click here for the Report presented by the Swedish Presidency.

The Council also adopted a follow up Report on the Northern Dimension.

Although the Belgian Presidency of the Council has not made public its Action Plan yet, its general Work Programme states that  special attention will be given -among other things- to "the consequences of the enlargement of the Union, in particular for the region of Kaliningrad, to the development of a European security and defence policy, as well as to questions in connection with justice and internal affairs." With regard to the political dialogue, the Work Programme announces that "the stabilisation of  the situation in the Caucasus and the strengthening of the rule of law" will be discussed at the next EU-Russia Summit in October. 

Click here for the passages referring to Russia of the Commission's Work programme for 2001 and in the Commission's Strategic Objectives for 2000-2005. Further, the Commission issued the Country Strategy Paper 2002-2006 and the National Indicative Programme 2002-2003 on 27 December 2001. The Country Strategy Paper (CSP) provides the strategic framework for European Community assistance to Russia, the National Indicative Programme further details the objectives of the CSP.

In order to provide some feed-back to the Union, the Russian Government responded to the Common Strategy with the Medium-term Strategy for Development of Relations between the Russian Federation and the European Union (in the following referred to as 'the Medium-term Strategy'), which outlines its view on the shaping of their mutual relations. 
Click here for references to the EU in the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation, 28 June 2000. 

The PCA establishes that meetings between Russia and the EU should take place regularly. At the Finnish initiative, it was decided that they could also be held in a EU-Russia-US format. 

EU-Russia Summit meeting declarations- please note that the first five Summit meetings did not produce a declaration: 

• Helsinki, 22 October 1999
• Moscow, 29 May 2000 
• Paris, 30 October 2000. This meeting also produced a Joint Declaration on strengthening the dialogue and co-operation in political and security matters in Europe.
• Moscow, 17 May 2001
• Brussels, 3 October 2001. includes two declarations on combating international terrorism and on strengthening the political and security dialogue

Moskow, 29 May 2002

Meetings of the EU-Russia Co-operation Council: 

• 1st Meeting, 27 January 1998 
• 2nd Meeting, 17 May 1999 
• 3rd Meeting,10 April 2000
• 4th Meeting, 10 April 2001
• 5th Meeting, 16 April 2002

See also: 

• Trilateral ministerial EU-Russia-USA meeting, 3 March 2000

II. Areas of Co-operation 

A statement by the EU on the entry into force of the PCA outlines the two main strands of co-operation: internal assistance to Russia and coordination of policies on the European continent. Since the adoption of the Common strategy, relevant initiatives in the security field taken by the EU can be ascribed to both strands: 

Strand 1: Assistance to Russia

1. Non-Proliferation and Disarmament 

The EU has been very active in supporting the implementation of arms control agreements. 

• Council Joint Action establishing a European Union Co-operation Programme for Non-proliferation and Disarmament in the Russian Federation, 17 December 1999 (pdf)
• Declaration by the European Union on EU Assistance to the Russian Federation related to the Chemical Weapons Convention, 21 May 1997

The Swedish Presidency has held a Conference on Non-Prioliferation with Russia. Click here for the Summary on Conference on Nonproliferation and Russia, 9 March 2001. 

2. 'Northern Dimension' and EU Enlargement 

The Northern Dimension aims to intensify regional cross border co-operation between the most northern members of the EU and its neighbouring countries with a view to enlargement. Co-operation within the Northern Dimension covers a wide range of fields such as environment, energy, infrastructure, business co-operation and Justice and Home Affairs and involves both EU members and applicants along with Russia, Norway and Iceland. 

Click here for the decisions regarding the Northern Dimension since the Luxembourg Presidency Conclusions of 12-13 December 1997. 

• "The Northern Dimension of EU foreign policy- from words to action", Article by Chris Patten & Anna Lindh, 20 December 2000 
• A Northern Dimension for the Policies of the Union: current and future activities, Speech by Chris Patten, 12 November 2000 

Specific areas of action: 

a) Nuclear safety and nuclear waste management 

• Excerpts from the Commission's inventory of current activities in the framework of the Northern Dimension, 7 September 1999 
• Excerpts from Action Plan for the Northern Dimension 2000-2003, 13 June 2000 

See also: 

• Tacis Nuclear Safety Programme
• An evaluation of the Tacis Country Progamme in Russia, January 2000

Negotiations on a Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Programme for Russia (MNEPR) are currently ongoing. 

b) Kaliningrad 

Due to its geographic location amidst EU candidates, the impact that future enlargement of the Union to the Baltic region could have on the Kaliningrad exclave has been an issue of special concern to Russia. Preoccupations evidenced in the Medium-term Strategy were not related to security, though. Click here for the reference. 

• The EU and Kaliningrad, Communication from the Commission to the Council, 17 January 2001 
• Excerpts from Action Plan for the Northern Dimension 2000-2003, 13 June 2000

In April 2001, the second Foreign Ministers' Conference on the Northern Dimension took place in order to take stock of achievements. Click here to see the Conference's Conclusions. Another meeting was held on 15 May 2002, especially concerning the issue of the enlargement and its implications for Kaliningrad
Click here for further documents on the Northern Dimension. 

Strand 2: Co-ordination of Policies on the European Continent

1. Participation of Russia in EU-led crisis management operations 

One of the most important issues in this relationship in the domain of security has been the modalities of participation of Russia in future crisis management operations led by the EU in the context of its emerging Common European Policy on Security and Defence. These modalities were agreed at the Nice Summit in December 2000.

• Relevant provisions in the Common Strategy of the EU and in the Medium-term Strategy of Russia. 
• Modalities for the participation of Russia and Ukraine in the operations led by the European Union 

2. Co-operation in civilian crisis management and conflict prevention 

Co-operation in the field of civilian crisis management is stil under consideration. Also, no co-operation in conflict prevention has been agreed on an EU - Russia basis so far. Certain references in the Common Strategy as well as in other follow-up documents seem to indicate that the latter might be delegated to the OSCE framework. In a Communication on Conflict Prevention recently tabled by the Commission, explicit reference to enhancing co-operation with Russia is made.

III. Other Issues relevant to security: 

Russia's behaviour in the Chechnya conflict as well as in its relations to the Southern Caucasus countries have met with severe condemnation by the EU and have manifestly constituted an impediment for the development of closer relations between both entities. 

1. Chechnya 

• European Council's Declaration on Chechnya, annexed to the Helsinki Presidency Conclusions, 10/11 December 1999 
• Human rights violations in Chechnya, statement by C. Patten, 25 February 2000
• General Affairs Council Conclusions, 24 January 2000 
• Reference to Russia in the Presidency Conclusions of the Lisbon European Council, 23-24 March 2000
• Article on Chechnya by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation I. Ivanov, 11 May 2000 (pdf)

2. Southern Caucasus 

• Resolving a frozen conflict: "Neither Russia nor the west should try to impose a settlement on the southern Caucasus", say Anna Lindh and Chris Patten 20 February 2001 
• reference to Russia-Georgia relations in Patten's Speech, "The EU and Russia - The way ahead", 18 January 2001

B. Speeches
Check here for the latest speeches and declarations on EU-Russia relations: 

• President of the European Commission R. Prodi: What the 21st Century Holds for the EU-Russia Relationship, 28 May 2002
• External Relations Commissioner C. Patten: On EU-Russia Relations, 28 May 2002
• External Relations Commissioner C. Patten: The EU and Russia - The Way ahead, 18 January 2001 
• Remarks of Commissioner Patten on Oostlander Report on Russia in front of the European Parliament, 12 December 2000 ( see below for the Oostlander Report) 
• Interview with Swedish Prime Minister G. Persson: EU-Russia Co-operation must be deepened, Europe Magazine, November 2000 (pdf)
•  President of the European Commission, R. Prodi on the future of Europe and relations with Russia, 29 May 2000 (pdf)
• Article by President of the European Commission, R. Prodi, in view of the EU-Russia Summit, in "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" and "Financial Times" 26 May 2000 (pdf)
• Reference to Russia in a speech by Commissioner Patten: A European Foreign policy: Ambition and Reality, 15 June 2000
• Finnish Secretary of State J. Valtasaari: Priorities for the Finish Presidency and ideas for joint EU/US action to Russia , 22 June 1999
• Finnish Ambassador R. Nyberg: EU Common Strategy on Russia, 15 July 1999
• Finnish Secretary of State J. Valtasaari: Defining the Common interests of the USA, the EU and Russia, 28 March 1999

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C. Research Studies 

Check here for a selection of recent studies: 

• De Spiegeleire, S.: Recoupling Russia: Staying the Course – Europe's Security Relationship with Russia, IISS/CEPS European Security Forum, Brussels, 14 January, 2002
• Trenin, D.: A Russia-within-Europe: Working toward a new security arrangement, IISS/CEPS European Security Forum, Brussels, 14 January, 2002
• Danilov, D.: The EU's Rapid Reaction Capabilities: A Russian Perspective, IISS/CEPS European Security Forum, Brussels, 10 September 2001
• van Ham, P.: Europe's New Defense Ambitions: Implications for NATO, the EU, and Russia, The Marshall Center, Spring 2001 (pdf)
• Nixon Center: What is to be undone? A Russia Policy Agenda for the New Administration, February 2001
• Pursiainen, C., Haavisto, P. and Lomagin, N.: Soft security problems in Northwest Russia and their implications for the outside world. A framework for analysis and action, Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Working Paper 31, 2001 (pdf)
• Haukkala, H.: Two Reluctant Regionalizers? The European Union and Russia in Europes North, Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Working Paper 32, 2001 (pdf)
• Fedorov, G.M.: Kaliningrad Alternatives today, ZEI Discussion Paper C 80, 2000 
• Leshoukov, I.: Beyond Satisfaction: Russia's Perspectives on European Integration, ZEI Discussion Paper C26, 2000 
• Haukkala, H.: The Making of the European Union's Common Strategy on Russia, Programme on the Northern Dimension of the CFSP, 2000 
• Haukkala, H.: The Making of the European Union's Common Strategy on Russia, Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Working Paper 28, 2000 (pdf)
• Prantl, J.: Security and Stability in Northern Europe -- A Threat Assesment, Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Working Paper 25, 2000 (pdf)
• Heikka, H.: The Evolution of Russian Grand Strategy - Implications for Europe's North, Programme on the Northern Dimension of the CFSP, 2000
• Prantl, J.: Security and Stability in Northern Europe - A Threat Assessment, Programme on the Northern Dimension of the CFSP, 2000
• Timmermann, H.: The Russian exclave of Kaliningrad in the context of regional co-operation, BIOst Report 20/2000, 21 August 2000 (abstract)
• Timmermann, H.: Russia's Strategy for the European Union, BIOst Report 5/2000, April 2000 (abstract)
• Herd, G. P.: EU Enlargement in the North: Security Dynamics in the 3 Nordic-Baltic-EU- Russian Relations into the New Century, Conflict Studies Research Center, February 2000 (pdf)
• Grant, Ch.: How to help Russia, CER Newsletter, February 2000
• de Spiegeleire, S.: The Emerging Russia-Europe Nexus - Implications for the US, RAND Center for Russia and Eurasia, January 2000 (summary & Powerpoint presentation)
• Ljoschin, M.G.: Die rußländische Sicherheitspolitik um die Jahrhundertwende, IFSH Forschungsbericht, September 1999 (German only) 
• Valinakis, Y.: The Black sea region: challenges and opportunities for Europe, Chaillot Paper 36, July 1999 
• Braithwaite, R.: What next for Russia?, CER Newsletter, December 1998 
• Knudsen, O.: Co-operative Security in the Baltic Sea region, Chaillot Paper 33, November 1998
• Danilov, D. and De Spiegeleire, S.: From decoupling to recoupling: A new security relationship between Russia and Western Europe?, Chaillot Paper 31, April 1998 
• Heikka, H.: The Evolution of Russian Grand Strategy - Implications for Europe's North, Polsis, University of Birmingham

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D. Parliamentary Reports 

Check here for a selection of recent reports of (inter-)parliamentary bodies: 

• EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, 4th meeting, Brussels, 28 November 2001
• Report on the Implementation of the Common Strategy of the European Union on Russia (Oostlander Report), European Parliament Document A5-0363/2000, 29 November 2000 
• EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, 3rd meeting, Brussels, 28 November 2000
• Russia and European Security, WEU Assembly Document C 1722, 15 November 2000 (pdf)
• NATO relations with Euro Atlantic Partnership Council Member Countries, North Atlantic Assembly Report, November 2000
• Kaliningrad: Source of tension or incentive for co-operation?, North Atlantic Assembly Report, October 1999
• NATO-Russia relations and next steps for NATO-enlargement, NATO Parliamentary Assembly Report, 28 September 1999
• The future of relations between the European Union and Russia, European Parliament, 12 February 1998
• The situation in central Asia and the Caucasus and European security [Part 1], WEU Assembly Document 1586, 17 November 1997 [Part 2] [Part 3]
• No Arctic Security without Russia, NATO Parliamentary Assembly Report, 27 August 1997
• The consequences of the Madrid NATO summit in Madrid for the development of WEU's relations with central and eastern European countries and Russia, WEU Assembly Document 1585, 5 November 1997 
• Towards a European Union strategy for relations with the Transcaucasian

Republics, European Parliament, 13 September 1996 

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E. Basic Policy Documents of the Russian Federation 

• National Security Concept
• Foreign Policy Concept
• Concept of the World in the XXIst Century (Summary) 
• Military Doctrine