Valdai Club

Is there any future of the Russia-EU cooperation after the failed "Strategic partnership"? Participants of the Valdai Discussion Club session tried to give answers to this and many other questions.

The session took place on June 16, 2016, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and was one of the most important debates on the future of EU-Russia relations, organized by the Valdai Discussion Club.

The "business as usual" principle in EU-Russia cooperation has lost its fundamentality long before the Ukrainian crisis, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who took part at the Valdai Club session. And the reason is not only mistakes made by both parties. "We understand that part of directives aimed to curtail the cooperation with Russia are generated from overseas. The Americans have their own economic interests ", - the minister said.

According to Lavrov, the current crisis should help both Russia and the EU to understand how to build further relationship, without isolationism. The European Union is the most important political partner of Russia, and the development of strong ties in a number of areas corresponds to the interests of both sides.

Speaking about the history of sanctions against Russia, Lavrov recalled discontent of some heads of European governments, who were forced to carry out a sanctions policy, adopted by Brussels without their approval.

Moreover, despite the fact that the Minsk agreements mostly relate to Kiev, their compliance is a key condition for the lifting of economic sanctions against Russia. But non-compliance of the agreements and the extension of the anti-Russian sanctions can only serve the interest of the Ukrainian side, causing all sorts of delays in their implementation by Kiev.

Responding to a question what might mean the sensational statement by John Kerry, who claimed that the patience of the United States in the settlement of the Syrian conflict comes to an end, Sergey Lavrov outlined the major steps, taken in order to stabilize the Syrian conflict, including the Russian side.

According to him, currently the most problematic is the failure of the negotiations by all the parties involved in the conflict, due to disagreements between the opposition groups and the refusal of Turkey to allow the Kurdish side to negotiate. US delay in the separation of the opposition groups from the Jabhat al-Nusra positions is one of the major stumbling blocks in the successful settlement of the Syrian crisis.

Former French Foreign Minister Hubert Védrine said that due to the success of Russia in Syria and the failure of the European concept of the Syrian crisis settlement the United States and Russia have a unique opportunity to determine the political future of that country.

According to Védrine, during the Cold War Russia-EU relations "were better organized and more intelligent than they are now". To continue the successful symbiosis between Russia and the European Union they must get out of the "Ukrainian trap". And it must be done together and in parallel.

The long-term basic principles of interaction between Russia and the European Union are on the way to be formulated. Hubert Védrine stressed that the implementation of the Minsk agreements is a key element to form a new joint future strategy.

Speakers at the Valdai Club session repeatedly emphasized that a significant role in the restoration of Russia-EU relations is played by a continued cooperation between business circles, particularly in the key cooperation area - energy. "A healthy business relationship is the only cure, which promotes political stability between the partners", - said Rainer Seele, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of the largest Austrian gas company OMV.

He reminded that the successful cooperation between Russia and the EU in the field of energy has a long history, and the European partners never had to reproach Russia for the non-compliance of agreements. The mutual damage is huge, Seele stressed, and many demand sanctions review or their complete abolition.

According to Alexander Medvedev, Gazprom's Deputy CEO, the implementation of major joint projects is likely to restore the dialogue. Both Russia and Europe have too many benefits of mutual partnership in the energy sector, and it is impossible to abandon it in a minute. Therefore, according to Medvedev, Brussels rhetoric on limiting dependence on Russian gas is inappropriate.

Evgeny Vinokurov, Director of the Centre for Integration Studies of the Eurasian Development Bank, urged European partners to take into account the potential of the Eurasian Union, which receives increased powers, delegated by the member states. He stressed that the EU and the Eurasian Union need to develop common schemes. "We offer to think about a great deal, a comprehensive agreement, which would link together all aspects of relations between the Eurasian Union and the European Union", - Vinokurov said.

Summing up the session, Andrei Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board of Foundation for the Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club, noted the crucial importance of the dialogue, aimed to continued understanding of the new architecture of EU-Russia relations and the development of analytical strategy by the Valdai Club experts.