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EU to press Putin for energy deal EU to press Putin for energy deal
(10 minutes later)
European Union leaders have agreed to push for a legally binding deal with Moscow that would guarantee energy for the EU and a steady income for Russia.European Union leaders have agreed to push for a legally binding deal with Moscow that would guarantee energy for the EU and a steady income for Russia.
The pact would come as part of a new strategic partnership which the EU wants to start negotiating this year.The pact would come as part of a new strategic partnership which the EU wants to start negotiating this year.
EU leaders are to press Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept the idea over dinner at their summit in Lahti, southern Finland.EU leaders are to press Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept the idea over dinner at their summit in Lahti, southern Finland.
Russia supplies a quarter of the oil and gas consumed in the European Union.Russia supplies a quarter of the oil and gas consumed in the European Union.
On energy resources with Russia we aim to build a closer, legally binding partnership based on mutually balanced long-term benefits Finnish PM Matti Vanhanen The leaders will also call on Russia to find the killer of the journalist, Anna Politkovskaya, and may discuss recent tensions between Russia and Georgia.On energy resources with Russia we aim to build a closer, legally binding partnership based on mutually balanced long-term benefits Finnish PM Matti Vanhanen The leaders will also call on Russia to find the killer of the journalist, Anna Politkovskaya, and may discuss recent tensions between Russia and Georgia.
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said the EU leaders achieved "unity" over their approach to the meeting with Mr Putin.Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said the EU leaders achieved "unity" over their approach to the meeting with Mr Putin.
"On energy resources with Russia we aim to build a closer, legally binding partnership based on mutually balanced long-term benefits," he said."On energy resources with Russia we aim to build a closer, legally binding partnership based on mutually balanced long-term benefits," he said.
'Good atmosphere''Good 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.
Europe diary: The gas man Origin of Europe's gas Blair urges climate actionEurope diary: The gas man Origin of Europe's gas Blair urges climate action
The EU leaders 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.The EU leaders 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.
A paper prepared for the summit by the European Commission also stressed the importance of increasing energy imports from the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Caspian, Middle East and Gulf regions.A paper prepared for the summit by the European Commission also stressed the importance of increasing energy imports from the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Caspian, Middle East and Gulf regions.
The issue became a major priority for the EU after Russia briefly cut off gas to Ukraine in January in a dispute over payment.The issue became a major priority for the EU after Russia briefly cut off gas to Ukraine in January in a dispute over payment.
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
British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Dutch counterpart Jan Peter Balkenende urged their fellow leaders to put climate change at the centre of their discussions.British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Dutch counterpart Jan Peter Balkenende urged their fellow leaders to put climate change at the centre of their discussions.
They said only 10 to 15 years remained before a "catastrophic tipping point" was reached.They said only 10 to 15 years remained before a "catastrophic tipping point" was reached.
The President of the European Commission also said in Lahti that the European Union needed to make new efforts to get other countries involved in the struggle.The President of the European Commission also said in Lahti that the European Union needed to make new efforts to get other countries involved in the struggle.
Other issues on the agenda at the informal summit included:Other issues on the agenda at the informal summit included:
  • 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 - the leaders called on Sudan to accept a UN peacekeeping force
  • 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 - the leaders called on Sudan to accept a UN peacekeeping force
Mr Vanhanen, whose country holds the EU presidency, has said he will raise the subject of the murder of Anna Politkovskaya in Moscow earlier this month with Mr Putin.Mr Vanhanen, whose country holds the EU presidency, has said he will raise the subject of the murder of Anna Politkovskaya in Moscow earlier this month with Mr Putin.
"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.
Human rightsHuman rights
The president of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell, told reporters in Finland that the EU leaders must not let reliance on Russian energy deter them from voicing human rights concerns.The president of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell, told reporters in Finland that the EU leaders must not let reliance on Russian energy deter them from voicing human rights concerns.
"There's a cash flow if you like and there's a gas flow if you like. We need the gas flow but I think the Russians also need the cash flow, because you can't eat gas. They need to sell it..."There's a cash flow if you like and there's a gas flow if you like. We need the gas flow but I think the Russians also need the cash flow, because you can't eat gas. They need to sell it...
"I think there is a mutual dependence... I think Europe would lose credibility if we were to swap energy for human rights," he said."I think there is a mutual dependence... I think Europe would lose credibility if we were to swap energy for human rights," 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 policy chief Javier Solana told journalists he had been talking to Russia and Georgia "practically daily" trying to cool down the situation and to persuade their leaders to talk to each other.EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told journalists he had been talking to Russia and Georgia "practically daily" trying to cool down the situation and to persuade their leaders to talk to each other.