EU-Russia: Juncker's Attendance of SPIEF Sign to Begin EU-Russia Dialogue

It is high time for reconcilliation

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s attendance of the upcoming St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is a sign that the EU is ready to begin dialogue with Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

Peskov said, however, that Juncker’s visit to St. Petersburg would not mean an immediate thaw in relations as time is needed to rebuild trust.

“Yes, Mr. Juncker’s arrival is expected and we’re preparing for this. Overall the issue of relations between Russia and the European Union is extremely important for the Russian Federation. [Relations] aren’t currently at their best,” Peskov told journalists.

Russia’s relations with the European Union will be discussed during a special session at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum (SPIEF) organized by the Valdai discussion club.

The SPIEF is an international economic and business event, which attracts politicians, entrepreneurs, scientists and media from all over the world to discuss the most significant issues for Russia and the global community. The next SPIEF forum is scheduled for June 16-18.

Note EU-Digest: Compliments to Jean-Claude Juncker - Obviously the US does not like for the EU to decide about its own destiny, specially when it comes to foreign policy and military activities, regardless of all the mess it brought the EU in so far - Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and the refugee crises. It is high time the EU considers it's own interests first - improving relations with Russia on our own continent should certainly be a major priority.

Read more: Juncker's Attendance of SPIEF Sign to Begin EU-Russia Dialogue - Kremlin

Russia: It's High Time For The EU To Bring Russia Back Into The European Equation As A Partner

Russia and the EU : Partners For Progress and Peace

Almost everyone now recognizes that Russia’s military intervention in Syria to defeat the so-called Islamic State terror group was the right call to make.

 Russian President Vladimir Putin isn’t crowing about it. He doesn’t have to.

The Russian intervention so far has proven to be a stunning success, that is indisputable.  Vladimir Putin and the Russian military ought to be particularly praised for having set goals fully
commensurate with their real capabilities.

Putin’s vindication was made clear by the enthusiastic reception afforded to him at the recent summit of G20 leaders in Turkey.. The Financial Times headlined: “Putin transformed from outcast to problem solver at the G20”.

In the meantime the so-called allies of the West in the Middle East, including, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf Arab states, have been exposed, not only by foes but also by friends for having been the major funding and facilitators of the jihadist terrorist brigades.

Putin also highlighted these "bad links" of our own Western alliance at the G20 summit, when he announced that the financing of the terror networks in Syria has come from “40 states, including members of the G20”.

During the G20 summit and on other occasions French President Hollande called for the U.S. and Russia to set aside their policy divisions over Syria and "fight this terrorist army in a broad, single coalition.". It seems to have worked..

Putin followed up  by offering Russian naval coordination with the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean for future airstrikes against ISIL.

All this goes far beyond the usual rhetoric and shows that Vladimir Putin has true leadership qualities on tackling terrorism in Syria and beyond., obviously, also, as any political leader would subscribe to, with motives of self interest.

But, when the whole Middle East was on the verge of an implosion and Europe overwhelmed by refugees, Putin stepped up to the plate.

As the old English proverb goes: "cometh the hour, cometh the man".

Maybe it's time, therefore, that the EU gets more serious and involved into what the Germans describe as  "Realpolitiek" and bring Russia back into the European fold as a partner.?


EU-Digest

EU Sanctions on Russia: Sweeping economic sanctions imposed on Russia by EU - by Julian Borger and Paul Lewis

European Union governments have agreed to impose sweeping sanctions on Russia, targeting state-owned banks, imposing an arms embargo, and restricting sales of sensitive technology and export of equipment for the country's oil industry, in response to Moscow's continued backing for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The punitive measures, the most extensive EU sanctions imposed on Russia since the cold war, were agreed by ambassadors from the 28 member states after a seven-hour debate. They decided that Moscow had not fulfilled the conditions laid down by foreign ministers last week, to stop the supply of arms to the rebels and provide full cooperation in the investigation into the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

According to an EU official, the most important measure agreed was to deny Russian state-owned banks access to European capital markets. Under the agreed sanctions, Europeans will not be permitted to buy debt, equity or other financial instruments with a maturity higher than 90 days in Russian state-owned financial institutions. Brokering or other services linked to any such transactions will also banned.

Any trade in arms and "related material" with Russia, both import and export, will be banned but the embargo will only apply to future contracts, and therefore would not affect the €1.2bn sale of two French Mistral helicopter carrier ships already agreed. Russia imports relatively few arms from the EU, but sells Europe weapons worth more than €3bn.

Certain technology related to the energy industry will require specific prior authorisation, and export permits will not be given for exploration or production equipment for deep-water or arctic drilling, or for shale exploration.

The measures do not affect the actual trade of oil, gas or other commodities.

"It is to do with how Russia might seek to exploit its natural resources further in the future, which are obviously an important money earner for the Russian state, and the fact they would probably look to use technology from other countries to do that," a British government source said.

Under the new measures, equipment and technology on the EU list of dual-use items, with both civilian and military purposes, can not be sold to Russian companies involved in any way in the arms industry – an export trade estimated to be worth around €20bn.

The economic sanctions are due to take effect later this week and be reviewed after three months.

Furthermore, another eight names of individuals and three entities will be added on Wednesday to the EU blacklist of Russians subject to asset freezes and travel bans. Of those, four of the new individuals on the sanctions lists were described by an EU officials as "cronies" of President Vladimir Putin, but the names have not yet been released.

The capital market measures are likely to prove the most painful for Russia. Last year, nearly half the bonds issued by Russian state-run financial institutions were issued in the EU's financial markets. Although Russian banks could go elsewhere to raise funds, the added uncertainty will add to the country's borrowing costs.

Read more: Sweeping economic sanctions imposed on Russia by EU | World news | theguardian.com