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EU to discuss energy with Putin EU to discuss energy with Putin
(40 minutes later)
European Union leaders are meeting in southern Finland to discuss how to ensure stable supplies of energy.European Union leaders are meeting in southern Finland to discuss how to ensure stable supplies of energy.
They will be joined for dinner by Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country supplies a quarter of the gas and oil consumed in the EU.They will be joined for dinner by Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country supplies a quarter of the gas and oil consumed in the EU.
The leaders will urge Mr Putin to improve conditions for EU companies to invest in Russian energy projects.The leaders will urge Mr Putin to improve conditions for EU companies to invest in Russian energy projects.
They will also call on Russia to find the killer of the murdered journalist, Anna Politkovskaya.They will also call on Russia to find the killer of the murdered journalist, Anna Politkovskaya.
The summit's Finnish hosts say its purpose is to encourage the EU to "speak with one voice" in its energy dealings with Russia.The summit's Finnish hosts say its purpose is to encourage the EU to "speak with one voice" in its energy dealings with Russia.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has urged his fellow leaders to put climate change at the centre of their discussions.British Prime Minister Tony Blair has urged his fellow leaders to put climate change at the centre of their discussions.
In a pre-summit letter to European leaders, Mr Blair said only 10 to 15 years remained before a "catastrophic tipping point" was reached in global climate change.In a pre-summit letter to European leaders, Mr Blair said only 10 to 15 years remained before a "catastrophic tipping point" was reached in global climate change.
Good atmosphereGood atmosphere
The European Commission wants to avoid a situation where Russia sells energy to one EU country on one set of terms, and to another on less advantageous terms.The European Commission wants to avoid a situation where Russia sells energy to one EU country on one set of terms, and to another on less advantageous terms.
Russia needs our markets, we need its energy - but this relationship must be built on openness and reciprocity Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen Europe diary: The gas man Blair urges climate action They also want European investors to have the same access to the Russian energy market as Russian companies have to Europe's market, and the ability to use Russian pipelines to export any gas and oil they produce in Russia. Russia needs our markets, we need its energy - but this relationship must be built on openness and reciprocity Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen Europe diary: The gas man href="/1/hi/world/europe/4578350.stm" class="">Origin of Europe's gas href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6068226.stm" class="">Blair urges climate action They also want European investors to have the same access to the Russian energy market as Russian companies have to Europe's market, and the ability to use Russian pipelines to export any gas and oil they produce in Russia.
Before they meet Mr Putin, the leaders will also discuss proposals for increasing energy imports from the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Caspian, Middle East and Gulf regions.Before they meet Mr Putin, the leaders will also discuss proposals for increasing energy imports from the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Caspian, Middle East and Gulf regions.
A Russian official quoted by Reuters said Mr Putin was ready to address European concerns about energy and that Moscow expected the discussion would take place in the "traditional good atmosphere".A Russian official quoted by Reuters said Mr Putin was ready to address European concerns about energy and that Moscow expected the discussion would take place in the "traditional good atmosphere".
ImmigrationImmigration
Other items to be discussed at the informal summit include:Other items to be discussed at the informal summit include:
  • Ways of improving innovation in Europe, turning inventions into new products, jobs and patents
  • A European Commission proposal for European Institute of Technology, which would pool Europe's resources and help universities and business collaborate
  • A plea from Spain and Italy for more help to deal with a large flow of African immigrants arriving by boat
  • The problem of Darfur, and appeals for the EU to put more pressure on the Sudanese government to stop the killing of civilians
  • Ways of improving innovation in Europe, turning inventions into new products, jobs and patents
  • A European Commission proposal for European Institute of Technology, which would pool Europe's resources and help universities and business collaborate
  • A plea from Spain and Italy for more help to deal with a large flow of African immigrants arriving by boat
  • The problem of Darfur, and appeals for the EU to put more pressure on the Sudanese government to stop the killing of civilians
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, who currently holds the EU presidency, has said he will raise the subject of the murder of Anna Politkovskaya in Moscow earlier this month, at the beginning of the dinner.Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, who currently holds the EU presidency, has said he will raise the subject of the murder of Anna Politkovskaya in Moscow earlier this month, at the beginning of the dinner.
"As you well know, we have from the EU side a demand to make a full investigation about the murder and we are expecting that Russian authorities can find the murderer," he said."As you well know, we have from the EU side a demand to make a full investigation about the murder and we are expecting that Russian authorities can find the murderer," he said.
Correspondents say it is possible that the leaders will also ask Mr Putin to explain his country's latest actions against Georgia.Correspondents say it is possible that the leaders will also ask Mr Putin to explain his country's latest actions against Georgia.
EU foreign ministers issued a statement on Tuesday expressing "grave concern" about the economic, political and humanitarian consequences of Russia's sanctions against Georgia, and urging Moscow "not to pursue measures targeting Georgians in the Russian Federation".EU foreign ministers issued a statement on Tuesday expressing "grave concern" about the economic, political and humanitarian consequences of Russia's sanctions against Georgia, and urging Moscow "not to pursue measures targeting Georgians in the Russian Federation".