The questions about Russian - NATO relations are again between the firsts of the European security agenda. And it is not a surprise. Frankly speaking it is not so easy to find a place in Europe where people can say that security is not among the main priorities of their life.
In its spirit and its historic and cultural traditions, Russia is part of the "European family”. There is no European or international issue nowadays that would not be on the of Russia-EU agenda. Successful development of the European continent is impossible without close interaction between Russia and the European Union.
As the Council of the Federation of the Russian Federal Assembly represents a Chamber of Russian regions, I would like to make a few comments on the current state and priorities in Russia’s cooperation with foreign countries.
On 1st December, the EU's Lisbon Treaty came into effect. This means that I am now the Head of Delegation of the European Union to the Russian Federation, and that my Delegation has taken on an enhanced responsibility for relations between the EU and Russia.
The EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (PCC) last year celebrated already its fist decade of existence. As a platform for discussion the members of the committee from Federal Council, State Duma and the European Parliament are the link between the political dialogue at the highest level and the concerns of Russian and European citizens.
This year we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe is a value community based on the principals of human rights, the rule of law, democracy, cultural diversity and social cohesion.
The vector of intensive development of European integration was set after catastrophic events of the first half of the 20th century, i.e. after the two World Wars.
The Central Electoral Commission of the