The summit, the first since the Russian-Georgian conflict, focused mainly on the Caucasus, pan-European security and the international financial crisis, a press release from EU Council chair France reads.
On the issue of pan-European security, the European Union expressed its concern with regard to President Medvedev’s speech in Berlin and his statements on the potential deployment of Russian missiles, stating that no missiles should be deployed until the new geopolitical conditions of pan-European security had been discussed.
President Sarkozy proposed holding a meeting in mid-2009, perhaps in the framework of the OSCE, to lay the foundations of what could be the future security of Europe.
Mr. Sarkozy also stated his conviction that it was in the joint interests of the Russian Federation and Europe to work on the perspective of a common economic area.
Commission President José Manuel Barroso also proposed pursing negotiations on the partnership agreement between the European Union and Russia and recalled the Commission’s support for Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organisation. He emphasised the importance of intensifying dialogue on energy, recalling that this summit had allowed clarification on certain important principles in that area, and welcomed the Russian decision to postpone increasing the export rights on certain forestry products, the press release reads
