INDEX OF FRIENDLINESS TOWARDS RUSSIA

The Index here below breaks down the EU 28 into three groups. Groupe I: Countries that are most friendly towards Russia, Group II: Countries that neither friendly nor unfriendly towards Russia, and Group III: Countries that are the most unfriendly towards Russia. The purpose of this Index is to provide a rough guide to the views across Europe on Russia.

Groupe I : Most Friendly Countries towards Russia (in descending orders) Doves

1. Bulgaria
2. Cyprus, Greece, Luxembourg
3. Spain
4. Italy
5. Hungary
6. Slovakia, Germany, Austria
7. Netherlands, Finland

Bulgaria: There are strong cultural ties between Russia and Bulgaria. Bulgaria has tended to be more sympathetic to Russia than most other member states. There are regular high level political and official contacts. The two sides have more than 80 bilateral agreements covering all spheres of activity. In 1995, a Bulgaria-Russia Friendship Group was established in the Bulgarian Parliament. Today it includes 131 MPs in the Bulagrian National Assembly.

Cyprus: Cyprus and Russia have long standing close ties and have concluded a large number of agreements covering political, economic, trade, cultural and legal cooperation. Cyprus is a strong defender of closer EU ties with Russia and among those member states calling for a softer approach to Moscow.

Greece: The two countries share strong ties due to their common Orthodox faith and historical contacts. Bilateral relations are marked by a spirit of cooperation, especially in the political, economic and cultural fields. Greece also attaches considerable impotance to Russia as a trading partner, including energy supplies and arms sales. It has been a strong supportyer of closer ties with Russia within the EU. In recent years there have been intense high-level meetings covering fotreign affairs, defence, the economy, trade and industry. There are regular action plans to boost cooperation in specific areas such as energy and tourism. Key agreements include Friendship and Cooperation (1993), military cooperation, avoidance of double taxation, shipping, air transport and cooperation in the fuel and energy sector. Parliamentary contacts are active and 61 Greek MPs are members of the Greece-Russia Friendship Group.

Luxembourg: Luxembourg's overall attitude towards Russia is friendly. Since 1990, there have been five bilateral agreements covering air traffic control, taxes, financial monitoring, the fight against money laundering, culture, education, science, and health care cooperation. In addition to frequent ministerial visits (Luxembourg benefits as one of the seats of the EU institutions) parliamentary contacts have increased to once a year visits to both countries. The Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce for Russia and Belarus is an important factor in the relationship. It promotes exports and investment from Luxemburg and Belgium in Russia; furnishes business with knowledge of the country, markets and language.

Spain: Spain relations between Russia and Spain have never been particularly warm and are not a high priority, Spain has tended to adopt a low-key and prudent approach towards Moscow. Spain is keen to reinforce cultural, social and educational ties between the EU and Russia. There are numerous agreements covering military, energy, industrial, scientific and technical cooperation. Annual meetings take place between the Spanish and Russian foreign ministries and there are regular ministerial contacts on economic and industrial cooperation. Parliamentary ties are strong. Economic relations have developed rapidly, aided by a joint business committee, established in 2003, and region-to-region contacts.

Italy: Italy and Russia have enjoyed close relations for many years with the Prime Minister Berlusconi one of the strongest supporter of close EU-Russia relations. The two sides have signed numerous agreements in the fields of economics, industry, defence, culture, science, customs and security. In 2002 both sides established an annual enlarged summit meeting. There are also regular parliamentary contacts.

Hungary: There are numerous agreements on tourism, visas, travel and customs issues, environmental protection, nuclear energy and the status of war graves. Hungary is divided along political lines in its attitude towards Russia. There is little public discussion about Russia except on energy matters since Hungary is extremely heavily dependent on Russian oil and gas.

Slovakia: Attitudes towards Russia have varied according to the political makeup of the parties in power in Slovakia. Slovakia and Russia have many agreements covering friendly relations, economic and scientific cooperation, medical aid, cultural exchanges and long term oil supplies and military mutual aid in exceptional circumstances. Other agreements deal with the support and protection of mutual investments, cooperation on nuclear energy and radiation safety, technologies, oil and gas supplies, security issues, confidential data protection and tourism.

Germany: Germany is the most important EU member state in the eyes of Russia which views it as its most powerful advocate within the EU. Germany enjoys strong economic ties with Russia and has been a powerful advocate within the EU for closer relations with Russia. There are numerous agreements between Germany and Russia covering political, security, cultural and other issues. Since 1998, there have been annual inter-governmental consultations and frequent senior official meetings. The Foreign Ministry has established an office for inter societal cooperation while the Petersburg Dialogue facilitates contacts between politicians and high ranking players in business, culture, education and the media. These meetings are often attended by the Russian President and the German Chancellor. Germany and Russia have set up a number of working groups to discuss the challenges of modern society eg the environment and healthcare. Germany has a large diaspora of Russians and by far the most numerous contacts at civil society level.

Austria: Relations between Austria and Russia are coloured by a shared imperial history and close trade ties, especially in the energy field. There are many areas of cooperation with Russia from political and security issues to justice and home affairs which are discussed at regular high level political and official meetings. For Austria any kind of escalation against Russia should be avoided as Russia and the EU have strategic reasons for reasonable co-operation.

Netherlands: In recent years there has been a steady increase in trade, political and cultural relations between the Netherlands and Russia. Cooperation takes place within the framework of the Common Action Programme (CAP). Several bilateral agreements cover security, naval and fiscal matters, diplomatic representation, and economic, cultural and scientific exchanges and cooperation. The foreign ministers meet once a year. The Netherlands takes a middle position in EU-Russia relations.

Finland: In 1999 Finland launched the Northern Dimension Programme within the EU in order to better address the challenges in the Baltic Sea region. Since the 1992 agreement on basic relations between Russia and Finland, more than 80 agreements have been signed covering all aspects of bilateral relations. The presidents of both countries meet regularly and since 2000 the heads of government meet twice or even three times a year. There are mutual friendship groups in the Russian Duma and the Finnish parliament.

Group II: Neither Friendly nor Unfriendly towards Russia

Croatia, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia

Malta: Fourteen agreements have been signed concerning inter alia respect of Malta’s neutral status, tourism, cultural exchange and air traffic. There are occasional meetings of ministers and their deputies. Mediterranean affairs are the most discussed political issue between the two countries. Malta adopts a low profile in EU-Russia relations.

Portugal: In 1994, Portugal and Russia signed a treaty on friendship and understanding to serve as a basis for all bilateral contacts. Since 2000, there have been six agreements on double taxation, diplomatic representation, military cooperation, international terrorism, crime and drugs. Portuguese views on Russia tend to be uncritical. Economic relations are coordinated and fostered by the joint commission on economic, industrial and technical cooperation.

Slovenia: Slovenia and Russia do not have any problems in their bilateral relations and their contacts are moderately warm. There are regular meetings at ministerial level (foreign affairs, justice, and economy) and several agreements have been signed since 1992 covering trade, taxation, security of investments, gas supplies, cooperation against organised crime, tourism, nuclear energy, and natural disaster management. Slovenia takes a moderate position in EU-Russia relations.

Group III:  Most Unfriendly Countries towards Russia (in descending orders) Hawks

1. Poland, Lithuania
2. Estonia, Latvia, Belgium, Romania, UK
3. Sweden, Denmark
4. Ireland
5. Czech Republic
6. France

Poland: Since Poland joined the EU in 2004 it has called for a tougher EU approach towards Russia. Many in the political class in Poland are concerned at the trends of Russian behaviour, at home and abroad.

Lithuania: A few contentious matters remain including the use of energy to put pressure on Lithuania. The Lithuanian media frequently raise the question of alleged Russian interference in internal politics. Another important issue concerns the Russian oblast of Kaliningrad, sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. Russia is a major theme in Lithuanian foreign policy and the government pushes for a stronger common EU line towards Moscow. The Lithuanian position towards Russia remains one of the toughest in the EU. Since 1991, there have been 36 bilateral agreements and protocols concerning, inter alia, work permits, pensions, economic cooperation, travel and transit to Kaliningrad, taxation, visas, cooperation in the field of ecology, and repatriation of illegal immigrants. The President of Lithuania has made two officials visits to Russia and there have been regular ministerial and parliamentary contacts. Annual meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission (established in 1996) prepare concrete projects for economic, scientific and cultural cooperation and provide a forum to handle any problems. Seven working groups focus on trade and economy, energy; transport, social affairs, science, culture and other issues. Ethnic Russians, about 9% of the population, are well organised with two political parties: the Union of Lithuanian Russians established in 1995, and the Russians Alliance, established in 2002.

Estonia: There is a significant Russian-speaking minority in Estonia - around 300,000 strong, it represents about a quarter of the population. Given the poor state of relations between Estonia and Russia, the EU framework is increasingly seen as a more promising channel for dealing with Russia than bilateral talks. Estonia has urged the EU to take a tough line on Russia. Since 1992, there has also been cooperation in the framework of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. There are friendship groups in both parliaments.

Latvia: Over the past few years, there has been an increase in high-level meetings and since 1990, there have been 19 bilateral agreements and four protocols. These have covered trade, shipping, tourism and transport, border controls, the removal of the Soviet Army, legal assistance, the resettlement processes and economic cooperation. Another important agreement was signed in 2006 establishing an intergovernmental commission on economic, scientific, technical, humanitarian and cultural cooperation. One of the biggest internal problems in Latvia is the status of the large Russian community. Most Russians have found it difficult to reconcile their changed situation after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Russian community is well organised into several bodies of different political colours: the Association of Russians in Latvia, the Association Homeland (Rodina) and a Russian party - the Union for Human Rights in a United Latvia. They all campaign for equal rights and the use of Russian in dealings with officialdom, although disagree on aims and methods.

Belgium: There are regular meetings at ministerial and senior official level to discuss security and economic issues. Belgium tends to support France and Germany in defining EU attitudes towards Russia. Since 2004, there have been annual inter-parliamentary conferences (alternately in Russia and Belgium) to discuss security issues.

Romania: The two sides have very few bilateral problems and Romania is in the mainstream of EU views on Russia. After the signing of the bilateral political treaty in 2003, Romanian-Russian relations improved with an increase in ministerial contacts to discuss cooperation on bilateral, regional and international topics, such as Black Sea Economic Cooperation. Several other bilateral agreements cover, inter alia, taxation, security of investments, mutual acceptance of university diplomas, customs and consular issues. Romania would like to see the EU push for security of energy supplies in any new treaty with Russia. Romania favours a free trade agreement with Russia to help regain the markets that it lost after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

United Kingdom: The UK and Russia have a long history of rivalry dating back to the 19th century. Britain is one of the member states which argues for a tough approach towards Russia. There are many agreements between the UK and Russia covering diplomatic, economic, trade, educational, scientific and cultural cooperation. There are regular parliamentary contacts and also exchanges between defence academies and the armed forces.

Sweden: Sweden and Russia have a longstanding relationship as neighbours in the Baltic Sea. More than 60 bilateral agreements are in force, including exclusive economic zones and emergency cooperation in the Baltic Sea, mutual protection of investments, cooperation in the fight against organised crime and illegal migration, protection of the environment and nuclear safety. Additionally, Sweden is involved with Russia and other Baltic countries in the EU Northern Dimension assistance programme to Russia. Political contacts are active with regular ministerial meetings. There is a parliamentary group for relations with the Duma.

Denmark: Bilateral relations are based on the 1993 agreement on the Development of Economic, Industrial and Technical Cooperation which establishes an intergovernmental Council for economic cooperation. Denmark is in the EU mainstream in terms of policy towards Russia. Denmark sustains that it is no longer possible to ignore Russia as a powerful player in its own neighbourhood.

Ireland: Relations between Ireland and Russia are not substantial. There has been an increase in ministerial visits and parliamentary contacts in recent years. Since 1993, there have been several agreements: the Air Transport Agreement (1993), Double Taxation Agreement (1994), the Road Transport Agreement (1995), and bilateral agreements on Fighting Crime and Illegal Drugs (1999). A Russia-Irish commission on economic and technological cooperation was established in 2000 and meets on an ad hoc basis.

Czech Republic : The Czechs have also been one of the strongest critics of Russia’s human rights record. The Czech Republic has pushed the EU to take a hard line towards Russia. The Czech Republic took over 46 agreements from the former Czechoslovakia and has added 37 new ones since 1993. They range from general cooperation through to employment, science and technology to encouraging investment.

France: France has been leading the Member States to a common position that criticises Russia while keeping dialogue open. More than 70 agreements regulate bilateral cooperation in defence and security, financial and energy issues, nuclear energy, police cooperation, recognition of degrees, and educational and cultural exchanges. The Franco-Russian governmental seminar meets once a year, presided over by the French and Russian prime ministers. There are also twice yearly meetings of foreign and defence ministers, while the French-Russian Parliamentary Commission fosters dialogue between legislators of both the French National Assembly and the Duma. There is also a Friendship Group France-Russia (67 MPs). France is a popular tourist destination with over 400,000 Russians visiting the country each year.