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

EU welcomes thaw in US-Cuba relations - by Peter Teffer

The European Union has welcomed the agreement between US and Cuba to re-establish diplomatic relations, a move which matches with its own approach to Cuba.

With an end to more than half a century of animosity between US and Cuba in sight, “another Wall has started to fall”, the EU's foreign chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement on Wednesday (17 December) referring to the Berlin Wall.

“The initial reaction of the Cuban government to these initiatives encourages all of us to be optimistic about a real change”, Mogherini said, adding that the developments “represent a victory of dialogue over confrontation”.

She likened US president Barack Obama's policy shift to the EU's approach toward the communist Latin American nation.

The EU started negotiations earlier this year with the Cubans on a combined trade and political agreement.

In August, the European top diplomat in Havana said negotiators had, during a second round of talks, made “substantial progress” towards a deal, which they hope will be finalised by the end of 2015.

Read more: EU welcomes thaw in US-Cuba relations