The 30th European Union-Russia Summit took place in Brussels on 20-21 December 2012.

Format

The EU was represented by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso. Russia was represented by President Vladimir Putin.

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission, along with European Commissioners Günther Oettinger (Energy) and Karel De Gucht (Trade), also took part in the Summit on the European side. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Minister for Energy Alexander Novak and Minister for the Economy Andrei Belousov accompanied President Putin. 

Agenda

A wide range of bilateral issues were on the agenda, including work on the New EU-Russia Agreement; the EU-Russia Partnership for Modernisation; trade issues following Russia's WTO accession in August 2012; energy cooperation; visa issues and mobility; aviation; crisis management and civil protection cooperation; human rights and the rule of law.

Leaders also discussed Russia's G20 presidency as well as regional and international issues, with discussions expected to focus on the situation in Syria, the Middle East and North Africa, the Middle East Peace Process; the Iranian nuclear programme; Moldova/Transnistria, Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh and the Western Balkans.

Press Releases:

• EU-Russia Summit 19/12/2012
• Factsheet EU-Russia Summit
• EU-Russia Summit feature

Speeches:

• Press statement by the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy following the 30th EU-Russia Summit  21/12/2012
• EU-Russia Summit – President Barroso's main messages 21/12/2012
• Joint Statement by the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov on Middle East Peace  21/12/2012