EU and Russia to step up Partnership for Modernisation, Moscow conference concludes

Ways of exploiting the untapped potential of cooperation under the EU-Russia Partnership for Modernisation were on the agenda of a conference in Moscow last week that brought together EU and Russian officials and stakeholders. A press release from the EU Delegation in Moscow said “the EU and Russia have a vast potential for jointly creating economic growth and increasing the living standards of our citizens.”

The conference, hosted by the Russian Minister of Economic Development (MED), discussed:

- investment projects stimulating modernisation;

- opportunities to improve, align and harmonise the regulatory framework for business;

- joint projects in the area of rule of law and cooperation in the fight against corruption;

- ways to support small and medium-sized enterprises, foster educational and training programmes.

The EU will remain a strong and attractive market for Russia, and vice versa, said the EU coordinator for the Partnership, Director of the European External Action Service Gunnar Wiegand. “We are ready to cooperate pragmatically and invite Russia to create with us a win-win situation for our citizens and companies,” he said, adding: “The EU, working on the basis of its commitment to democracy and free market economy, will continue to develop this common undertaking together with Russia.”

“Our strategic perspective is the creation of a harmonious economic space from Lisbon to Vladivostok,” Russia’s Minister of Economic Development Andrei Belousov stressed.

To boost the EU-Russia Partnership for Modernisation, the sides pledged to involve business, strengthen bilateral modernisation tracks and enhance the expert support of all relevant activities. TheConference findings will be reported by the EU and Russia coordinators to the forthcoming Summit.
(EU Neighbourhood Info)