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Yesterday, upon invitation of the European Council, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented a Joint Communication on the EU's relations with Russia. The Joint Communication presented recommendations ahead of the European Council meeting of 24-25 June on how to strengthen the implementation of the EU's Russia policy.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, yesterday said:

“History, geography and people bind the EU and Russia. The state of our relationship is complex. We have to identify the challenges and seize the opportunities. The deliberate choices and aggressive actions of the Russian government over the last years have created a negative spiral. Managing the EU-Russia relationship continues to represent a key strategic challenge for the EU. In response, the EU needs to continue to act in unity and with consistency, defending our fundamental values and interests.”

High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell, yesterday said:

“Under present circumstances, a renewed partnership between the European Union and Russia, allowing for closer cooperation, seems a distant prospect. Our ambition should be to explore paths that could help change the current dynamics gradually into a more predictable and stable relationship. The EU will simultaneously push back, constrain and engage with Russia, based on a strong common understanding of Russia's aims and an approach of principled pragmatism.”

Push back, constrain, engage: managing a strategic challenge

Provided the political conditions allow for it, the potential for EU-Russia cooperation is considerable. However, the Russian government is actively pursuing objectives that go in the opposite direction. Russia often challenges and undermines international law and key principles of the OSCE and Council of Europe to which it has committed. It tries to influence, interfere in and destabilise the EU and its Member States, as well as our partner countries. And Russia uses growing political repression, including of human rights and fundamental freedoms, to preserve the current political and economic order in the country.

In light of this challenge, yesterday's Joint Communication reviews the state of implementation of the five principles that guide the EU's relations with Russia, namely:

• The full implementation of the Minsk agreements;
• 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.

Click here for the full press release