Public Hearing on EU-Russia Relations

The Heinrich Böll Foundation and the EU-Russia Centre organise a conference hosted by MEP Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne on the EU-Russia relations. This is a particularly opportune time to be discussing this most critical relationship. Russia’s assertive presence in the international political and economic scene is in the frontline. At the same time, the recent repressive processes in Russia as the new law for foreign and national NGOs, the imprisonment of Michail Khodorkovsky and the death of the journalist Anna Politkovskaya in October have raised questions once again over Russia’s commitment to the rule of law, press freedom and civil liberties. These questions need to be addressed by EU leaders at the bi-annual EU-Russia Summit in Finland on November 24th as well as by MEPs in the forthcoming Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and all relevant forums, as they are a vital element of the EU’s presence abroad. We hope to to stimulate a frank discussion on some of the most pertinent issues at stake for the renewal of the PCA during 2007.