In the late 1990s several members of the Russian Parliament came up with the idea to set up in Moscow an informal association of politicians, businesspersons and experts who shared the ideas of the European integration that would involve Russia. The idea was to join efforts to create a Europe which would spread from Portugal to the Urals (and, taking into account the borders of Russia, to the Pacific Ocean).
Gradually, on the basis of the parliamentary European Club, other similar structures started to appear. For example, a European Club opened its doors in Perm, the place where Europe geographically begins (www.euroclub.perm.ru). Ambassadors of European countries have been actively participating in the work of the European Club since the first days of its creation, and many of them have become its honorary members. Eminent politicians have made speeches at the meetings of the European club. For instance, the first half of 2008 was marked by the reports by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner that were presented before the European Club members.
Since 2008, the President of the European Club is Konstantin Kosachyov, Head of the International Affairs Committee of the State Duma, and the Chairperson of its Executive Board is Andrey Klimov, member of the State Duma,
In the autumn of 2008 the European Club members decided that, in order to facilitate a direct and continuous dialogue among politicians, members of the business community and experts involved in
Taking into account that in the 21st century the main venue for international communications is the Internet, we decided to create a special