New trade and energy agreements will top the agenda of a new round of EU-Russia negotiations set to begin in 2007.
Europe’s leaders will agree the negotiating terms for a new EU-Russia relations framework at a December summit, talks will begin in January.
Free trade and energy will be at the heart of a new deal, with Europe seeking to secure gas supply and Russia to scoop free trade.
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen will get a November green light for a new round of talks from Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
"Our aim is that in November, when we have this EU-Russia summit, to make a decision to start official negotiations… and that negotiations would be done during 2007,” he said on Monday.
On the free trade front, Russian membership of the WTO will be a key pre-condition to any EU trade deal with Moscow.
The European commission has agreed new negotiating terms for a “comprehensive” deal with Russia, offering trade liberalisation tasters in return for energy pledges.
“The commission is proposing an agreement… with a particular focus on progressive deepening and development of trade relations and fair and open development of the energy relationship between the EU and Russia,” said a statement.
“The commission wants to consolidate the EU-Russia energy relationship based on reciprocity, fair and equal access and a level playing field, and to promote further development of EU-Russia trade relations.”
A commission spokesman stressed that talks would give a “new quality” to EU-Russia relations but trade breaks must follow the WTO issue.
“A new agreement will complement WTO membership, issues remain to be resolved, such as the Siberian over-flights” he said.
The EU is seeking to stop Russia charging European aviation companies for the right to fly across Siberia, a levy regarded in Brussels as contrary to international law.
Moscow trade bans on imports of meat from Poland and wine from Georgia and Moldova are also important barriers.
By linking trade and WTO membership to energy, the EU is seeking to push Russia into an energy agreement that opens up gas supply competition
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