EU leaders warn Russia to renew pact 'without precondition'

European Union leaders called Friday for Russia to renew "without precondition" a partnership agreement before the EU enlarges deep into eastern Europe in May.
In conclusions from a two-day summit, the heads of government said the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA) "remains the essential cornerstone" of the EU's relationship with Russia.
"The European Council (of leaders) expects it to be applicable to all member states without precondition or distinction as from May 1, 2004," the statement said.
"The European Union is open to discussing any of Russia's legitimate concerns over the impact of enlargement, but this shall remain entirely separate from PCA extension."
Russia has been dragging its feet over extending the existing partnership agreement to include the 10 enlargement countries - eight of which were once part of the Soviet bloc.
The EU signed a PCA with Russia in December 1997, setting out the political, economic and trade frameworks of its relationship with the vast country for the next 10 years.
But the accord needs to be adapted for the EU's expansion to encompass eight former Soviet satellites - the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia - plus Cyprus and Malta.
Moscow is concerned notably over the loss of preferential trade tariffs after its former Soviet bloc partners join the EU.
EU foreign ministers last month warned Moscow of a "serious impact" on relations if it failed to renew the accord before May 1 - which diplomats said at the time was a veiled threat of trade sanctions.
But in their statement, the EU leaders made no reference to repercussions if Russia does not renew the pact in time.
They did congratulate President Vladimir Putin on his landslide re-election on March 14.
The EU Council said it "looks forward to working with him in building a strategic partnership between the European Union and the Russian Federation based on respect for common values".
The leaders also said they looked forward to a "productive" EU-Russia summit on May 21 in Moscow.