Russian government arrives in Brussels for sweeping talks

Feb 24, 2011, 9:20 GMT

Brussels - A dozen Russian government ministers led by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived in Brussels on Thursday for talks with the European Union's executive on a wide range of issues including trade, energy and the crisis in North Africa.

The Russian government has held talks with the European Commission every two years since 2004. The initiative is part of a series of measures designed to improve communication and cooperation between Brussels and Moscow.

'I personally look forward to a very professional debate ... Certainly not an event of a mutual admiration society,' said Russia's EU ambassador, Vladimir Chizhov, ahead of the meeting.

The commission is the EU's executive, and holds large powers over issues such as trade, energy and environmental legislation. Its powers in foreign policy are strictly limited.

To match the commission's range of powers, Putin is set to be accompanied by Russia's trade, economy, energy, science and agriculture ministers, among other officials.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is also due to attend the meeting and hold talks with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who serves as commission vice-president. The violent upheavals in North Africa are expected to be the main theme of their discussions.

The 'executive-to-executive' talks are also set to focus on energy issues, ongoing talks on a sweeping political and economic agreement, attempts by the two sides to modernize and reform Russia's economy, and Russian demands for visa-free travel to Europe.

Russia has repeatedly requested visa abolition, but EU states are reluctant to grant it, seeing the issue as one of the few levers they still have over Moscow.

'My personal view is that in today's Europe, a visa regime is an anachronism,' Chizhov said.

Clashes could emerge over a number of issues. Russia is deeply angered by EU legislation aimed at limiting the power of energy companies such as Gazprom, and opposes EU plans to impose climate taxes on all airlines flying in the bloc, including foreign ones.

The EU, meanwhile, has repeatedly warned Russia over human rights and legal issues, while the commission is currently challenging a Russian rule that forces European airlines to pay transit fees for flying over Siberia to Asia.

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