The online discussion “How Can EU-Russia Relations Contribute to Strengthening Civil Society in Russia?” is organised by the Friends of European Russia Forum in the European Parliament and the Association Russie-Libertés in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in France.
Taking into account the recent developments in Russia, 5 years since 5 guiding principles of EU’s Russia policy were adopted, the European Union has started a reassessment of its Russia policy. The European Parliament has called for a thorough and strategic reassessment of the EU’s relations with Russia in its 17 September 2020 Resolution on the situation in Russia. Moreover, in its 21 January 2021 Resolution on the arrest of Aleksei Navalny, the European Parliament called on the EU and its Member States to devise a new strategy for the EU’s relations with Russia, centred around support for civil society, which promotes democratic values, the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and human rights. The EU Heads of State and Government will exchange views on the EU Russia policy at the March European Council meeting. In view of these developments, it is a good moment to discuss on how the 5th principle– that of support to Russian civil society – could be more effectively implemented? What role France can play in this process?
The discussion will be moderated by Ms Rym MOMTAZ, POLITICO Senior Correspondent, France.
Speakers:
Mr Nikolai KOBLIAKOV, President of the Association Russie-Libertés
Mr Andrius KUBILIUS, Member of the European Parliament, EPP, former Prime Minister of Lithuania, Co-ordinator of the Friends of European Russia Forum
Ms Audronė PERKAUSKIENĖ, Head of Russia Division, European External Action Service
Mr Vladimir MILOV, politician, economist and energy expert, associate and adviser of Alexei Navalny, former Deputy Minister of Energy of Russia
Mr André GATTOLIN, Senator for des Hauts-de-Seine (Ile-de-France), Vice-Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Armed Forces Committee (TBC)
Mr Bernard GUETTA, Member of the European Parliament, Renew Europe
Prof. Sergei GURIEV, economist, professor of economics at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po)
Mr Jacques MAIRE, Deputy of the National Assembly, France
Mr Vladimir KARA-MURZA, politician, Chairman of the Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom
Dr. Marie MENDRAS, political scientist with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), professor at Sciences Po’s School of International Affairs in Paris
The discussion will be followed by Q&A session.
The event will take place on 15 March, Monday, 12.00-13.45 (CET – Brussels/Paris time) on the Zoom and will be held in English.
Please register here : https://elpnariai.lt/registracijos/mar15-eu-russia-relations/