Opening of the 31st Russia-EU Summit

On June 3rd, the 31st Russia-European Union (EU) Summit opened in Yekaterinburg.

The conference took place over two days and was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, and President of the European Commission (EC) Jose Manuel Barroso.

According to Yuri Ushakov, press assistant to the Russian President, on the first day of the conference, the leaders will meet at an informal dinner where they will discuss the global economic situation, the economic situation in Russia and the EU, the activities of the G-20 group of developed and emerging economies, of which Russia currently holds the rotating presidency, as well as the situation in Syria.

According to Ushakov, the Syrian issue was also discussed at the working dinner on the morning of June 4th. In addition, the parties discussed the general situation in the Middle East and North Africa, Iran's nuclear program, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and the resolution of the issues in Transdniestria, Nagorno-Karabakh, Georgia, and Central Asia.

On the main day of the summit (June 4th), a plenary session took place. Issues raised in the plenary session formed the basis for a new agreement between Russia and the EU on bilateral trade and energy, and cooperation in the field of air transport (including the issue of transferring passengers' personal data and the issue of visa-free entry for citizens for short stays).

In addition, the agenda of the plenary session also addressed cooperation in the areas of freedom, security and justice, cooperation in security, human rights and legal regulations.

Also participating in this summit on the Russian side were Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov, Energy Minister Alexander Novak, and Minister of Economic Development Andrei Belousov.

Traditionally, the Russia-EU summit is held twice a year, in Russia during the first half of the year and in the country holding the rotating EU presidency during the second half.

According to (VNA) - DT