Joint Communication on EU-Russia relations – Push back, constrain and engage

Summary:

Communication published jointly by the European Commission and the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on 16 June 2021, setting out a number of recommendations on how to strengthen the implementation of the EU's policy concerning Russia.

Further information:

This Joint Communication reviews the state of implementation of five principles guiding those relations:

• Full implementation of the Minsk Agreement;
• Strengthened relations with the EU's eastern partners and other neighbours;
• Strengthened resilience of the EU;
• Selective engagement with Russia on issues of interest to the EU;
• People-to-people contacts and support to Russian civil society.

It proposes that the European Union simultaneously pushes back, constrains and engages Russia, with the aim of moving towards a more constructive engagement and political commitment by the Russian leadership. This is seen as indispensable to turn the existing tide affecting the relationship between the two sides.

The Communication addresses a request made by the European Council in May 2021 on laying out of policy options for the relations between Russia and the European Union (EU). The recommendations aim to inform a debate on EU-Russia relations during the European Council meeting in June 2021.

• Primary Source

• Alternative Source

News

Reuters, 15/06/2021: EU's new strategy on Russia: push back, constrain, engage https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN2DR1Y7

Euronews, 16/06/2021: EU must be 'more robust and resilient' against Russian attempts to undermine it, says Borrell https://www.euronews.com/2021/06/16/eu-must-be-more-robust-and-resilient-against-russian-attempts-to-undermine-it-says-borrell

TASS, 16/06/2021: EU’s Russia strategy authors have problems with history and sense of reality — diplomat https://tass.com/politics/1303005

The Guardian, 16/06/2021: EU-Russia relations expected to get even worse, says bloc’s top diplomat https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/16/eu-warned-to-expect-relations-with-putins-russia-to-deteriorate

Reuters, 16/06/2021: EU's chief diplomat expects ties with Russia to deteriorate further https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN2DS1U3

RFE/RL, 16/06/2021: EU Foreign-Policy Chief Says It's Time To 'Push Back' Against Russia https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-eu-borrell-plan/31311091.html

The Irish Times, 16/06/2021: EU ties with Russia may deteriorate further, says foreign policy chief https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/eu-ties-with-russia-may-deteriorate-further-says-foreign-policy-chief-1.4595367

Bloomberg, 16/06/2021: EU’s Russia Strategy Ignores Germany’s Nord Stream 2 Issue https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-16/eu-s-russia-strategy-ignores-problem-of-nord-stream-and-germany

EurActiv, 16/06/2021: EU should prepare for ‘further downturn’ of relations with Moscow, says Borrell https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-should-prepare-for-further-downturn-of-relations-with-moscow-says-borrell/

Politico, 16/06/2021: EU’s Borrell on Russia: Prepare for relations to get worse https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-borrell-russia-prepare-relations-worse/

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Official

European Commission: Press Release, 16/06/2021: EU-Russia relations: Commission and High Representative propose the way forward https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_3010

EU EEAS: Facts and figures about EU-Russia relations (16 June 2021) https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/100136/

EU EEAS: Remarks by the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the press conference presenting the Joint Communication on EU-Russia relations (16 June 2021) https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/100169/

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