A change in E.U. and Russian relations

At a summit meeting in Deauville, France between the leaders of Germany, Russian and France, Moscow is asking for regular participation in the E. U. committee that is responsible for setting the bloc’s foreign policy. "The focus on security certainly surprised many of Germany’s E.U. partners." Analysts say Chancellor Angella Merkel has realized that the European Union needs a security relationship with Russia because strengthening the NATO-Russia Council, which is supposed to discuss such issues, is going nowhere. Both leaders proposed the establishment of a new entity called the E.U.-Russia Political and Security Committee. The new committee would consist of the foreign ministers from Russia and the E.U. states. But Russia is expected to give something in return for gaining access to E.U. institutions. Mrs. Merkel told Mr. Medvedev in June that Germany wanted Russia to help resolve the continuing conflict in Transnistria which is a source of instability on Europe’s south-eastern borders."This summit is important because France and Germany are considered the locomotive of European integration, Mr. Chizhov said. Mr. Sarkozy is also eager to anchor Russia closer to Europe, according to French diplomats."

By Alicia Panczyk