Resolution on the EU-Russia summit in Samara on 18 May 2007

The Council held an exchange of views on preparations for the EU-Russia summit to be held in Volzhskii Utios, near Samara (Russia), on 18 May 2007.

The Summit is expected to address the state of play of EU-Russia relations, as well as topical international issues, notably Kosovo, Iran and the Middle East.

The problems surrounding the launch of negotiations on a new EU-Russia agreement will be on the agenda, as will important topics such as energy, climate change, Russia's accession to the WTO, the investment climate, implementation of the visa facilitation and readmission agreements, human rights, democracy and rule of law issues, and cooperation in the area of science, education and culture.

Other issues highlighted by the Council were energy security and the current state of Estonian-Russian relations.