IN SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT JUNCKER’S VISIT TO RUSSIA

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker will take part on 16 June 2016 in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Mr. Juncker will use this opportunity to convey to the Russian leadership, as well as the wider audience, the EU's perspective regarding the current state of the EU-Russian relations.

Russia hopes to find a trajectory for the improvement of bilateral ties between Moscow and Brussels and sees Mr. Juncker’s visit as expression of readiness for dialogue. Many European countries on the bilateral level are still demonstrating their interest in improving relations and expanding cooperation with Russia in order to compensate for what was lost over the last two years. Mr. Juncker’s visit to Russia should be used as an opportunity to make real progress on the re-opening of the Russian market to EU food exports.

Mr. Juncker,has called for a “practical relationship” with Moscow. He also said ‘we must make efforts towards a practical relationship with Russia’ and 'Russia must be treated decently’. In March, EU foreign ministers supported “selective engagement with Russia” and a “need to engage in people-to-people contacts”.

All said and done, Mr. Juncker's June 16 visit to Russia is important in reducing trust deficit and mutual tensions.