Russia and the EU:
Regional and Economic Cooperation

International Academic Conference
St. Petersburg, 13-14 October 2000

Russian

Abstracts of papers presented at the confenence

The conference was held on October 13-14, 2000 at the School of International Relations, St-Petersburg University. It was organized by the School of International Relations of the St-Petersburg State University with the support of the Delegation of the European Commission in Moscow.

The conference was attended by approximately 150 scholars, diplomats, politicians and businessmen from 17 countries. Russian regions were widely represented: apart from the participants from St-Petersburg, scholars and politicians from Moscow, Kaliningrad, Petrozavodsk, Novgorod, Pskov, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk, Tver, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Ekaterinburg took part and made presentations. Two sections: "Russia and the Single European Market" and "The European Union: the Prospects of Cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region", and a round table on the current issues of the relations between Russia and the EU were organised. A special plenary session was devoted to the problems of academic cooperation between Russia and the European Union.

At the opening ceremony, Sergey Tarasov, the Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of St-Petersburg, made a speech, in which he stressed the importance of such conferences for the development of studies and better understanding between European and Russian politicians. Professor Igor V. Murin, First Vice-Rector of St-Petersburg State University also greeted the participants on behalf of the Rector of the University and wished them all possible success in their work. Mr. Gilbert Dubois, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Commission in Moscow pointed out that the Commission had been supporting similar conferences during several years, and passed the greetings from the Head of the Delegation Mr. Richard Wright. Besides, Vice-Governor of Leningrad oblast Mr. G.V. Dvas and the Consul General of the French Republic Mr. Alexander Kelchevsky also delivered speeches at the opening ceremony.

Presentations at the plenary sessions were made by the Advisor of the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs N.V. Barkov, G. Dubois, Counsellor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland Bo Lindroos, Deputy Head of the North-Western Customs Department A.V. Gnetov, Political Counsellor of the Embassy of Spain in Washington J.A. Martin-Burgos, Head of the Trade Exchange Department at the Consulate General of Italy in St-Petersburg Giovanni Mafodda, First Vice-Rectors of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations I.G. Tiulin, Dean of the School of International Relations of the St-Petersburg State University K.K. Khudoley and others.

N.V. Barkov stressed that the results of the conference will be significant not only in academic, but in political aspect as well. He also dwelled upon the basic tendencies of the development of the Russian-European partnership. G. Dubois thoroughly examined the prospects of arranging new EU-Russia relations. G.V. Dvas, in particular, criticized TACIS Program and its political priorities. Later on this issue caused a lively discussion during the plenary session and section work. A.N. Kelchevsky in his speech examined the role of Europe in contemporary international relations, giving special attention to the cultural and economic interaction of Russia and the EU countries. A.V. Gnetov thoroughly considered the project "Russian Customs: 21st century". The presentation by Bo Lindroos was devoted to exploring the situation around the Northern Dimension of the EU after the European Сouncil in Feira. J.A. Martin-Burgos gave a special attention to the Spanish attitude to the development of relations between Russia and the EU. G. Mafodda analyzed the problems and the prospects of the Russian-Italian cooperation in the context of the single market.
The decision of the conference was that time has come for a new form of partnership between Russia and the EU. Both sides are greatly interested in broadening and extending cooperation. The role of the Baltic region in this context might be of special importance because it is there, where the interaction between Russia and the European Union is most intensive. In the opinion of the participants, the conference provided the opportunity to conduct an interesting and efficient exchange of views, which undoubtedly should be continued.

The conference enjoyed significant attention in the St. Petersburg and national media. Two reports from the conference were broadcast by the St. Petersburg Television and one by the Radio of Russia. Local press has published several articles about the conference.