EU–Russia partnership and cooperation agreement

 

SUMMARY OF:

Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU, its Member States and the Russian Federation

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THIS AGREEMENT?

• It provides the framework for EU–Russia relations.
• It regulates, among other things, the political, economic and cultural relations between the parties.

KEY POINTS

Principles

Respect for democratic principles and human rights constitute an essential element of the partnership.

Objectives

The main objectives of the agreement are to:

• enhance political dialogue to allow the development of close relations;
• promote trade and investment and harmonious economic relations based on the principles of market economy and so foster sustainable development;
• strengthen political and economic freedoms;
• support Russian efforts to consolidate its democracy, develop its economy and complete the transition into a market economy;
• provide a basis for economic, social, financial and cultural cooperation based on the principles of mutual advantage, mutual responsibility and mutual support;
• promote activities of joint interest;
• provide an appropriate framework for the gradual integration between Russia and a wider area of cooperation in Europe;
• create the necessary conditions for the future establishment of a free trade area between the EU and Russia covering substantially all trade in goods between them as well as conditions for bringing about freedom of establishment of companies, of cross-border trade in services and of capital movements.

Scope

The agreement covers areas such as:

• political dialogue;
• trade in goods (e.g. rules on the treatment of imported goods, on the transit of goods, on tariffs, etc.);
• business and investment (e.g. working conditions, conditions for the establishment and operation of companies and cross-border supply of services between the 2 parties);
• payments and capital;
• competition, intellectual, industrial and commercial property protection and legislative cooperation;
• economic cooperation (ranging from science and technology, education and training, through to the exploration of new sources of supply and of new markets, to energy, industrial development and transport);
• cooperation to prevent illegal activities (e.g. illegal immigration, corruption, counterfeiting and drugs trafficking);
• cultural cooperation (e.g. exchanges of artists, literary translations and exchanges in the area of architectural heritage);
• financial cooperation (e.g. assistance via training, transfer of know-how and technical assistance);
• institutional aspects (such as the creation of a set of bodies to permit regular political dialogue as well as to implement the agreement).

The agreement was concluded for an initial period of 10 years and is renewed on an annual basis.

Negotiations on a new EU–Russia agreement with the aim of creating a more comprehensive framework for EU–Russia relations were launched in 2008. Although these made considerable progress, they were halted in 2012.

FROM WHEN DOES THE AGREEMENT APPLY?

It entered into force on 1 December 1997.

BACKGROUND

Russia’s role in the Ukraine conflict and its illegal annexation of Crimea have seriously affected its relations with the EU. Many of the activities covered by the agreement have come to a stop and sanctions have been adopted.

For more information, see:

• ‘EU relations with Russia’ on the European External Action Service’s website
• ‘Russia’ on the European Commission Directorate-General for Trade’s website

MAIN DOCUMENT

Agreement on partnership and cooperation establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part — Protocol 1 on the establishment of a coal and steel contact group — Protocol 2 on mutual administrative assistance for the correct application of customs legislation — Final Act — Exchanges of letters — Minutes of signing (OJ L 327, 28.11.1997, pp. 3-69)

last update 10.10.2016