With growing fears in Mediterranean Europe over the security of vital gas supplies from Libya, Putin's timing given Russia provides up to 30 percent of the EU's gas imports looks impeccable, even if no formal legal agreements are due to be signed.The premier, joined on the trip by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as well as the ministers for finance, trade, agriculture and a host of other policy areas where Brussels has EU level powers, will meet EU president Herman Van Rompuy during the afternoon.
The main focus, though, will be talks with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, the executive chief with whom he has a relationship described by Russia's ambassador to the EU as "businesslike."As opposite numbers seek to bridge divides on individual policy portfolios, the meeting, generally, is "certainly not an event of the mutual appreciation society," Vladimir Chizhov spelled out.
In a lengthy session with journalists, ambassador Chizhov said there were "no prizes for guessing" that energy gas pipelines, rising prices and Russian accusations of creeping EU protectionism -- would lie at the core of their discussions.Likewise, Moscow's longstanding push for the need to obtain visas, when travelling in either direction, to be abolished.
But as with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, many will want to pursue Putin on campaigners' accusations of persistent rights violations in Russia.In a memorable phrase that captures the way discussions on this topic are likely to unfold, Chizhov said Russia doesn't want "the EU playing God, descending on Earth to teach the savages."
While human rights is formally off the agenda, the ambassador said if it comes up, "I always raise the situation of non-citizens in the EU, which has not improved drastically" since enlargement to take in mostly eastern, ex-Soviet states.He also cited EU blushes over a controversial media law in Hungary, and of current developments, added: "Look at north Africa and the broader Middle East you see mixed reactions from the EU and the United States."
A hole amounting to some 100 billion euros (137 billion dollars) in lost trade during the global economic crisis is expected to be filled by the end of 2011.To that end, Putin's government will push for changes to EU energy policy, chemical regulations, taxes on CO2 emissions for civil aircraft, veterinary rules and the bloc's farm produce export licensing regime.
Chizhov said 4,725 EU agricultural companies can access the Russian market, but only 13 Russian companies enjoy the same rights in reverse.Otherwise, Moscow is not holding its breath for Earth shattering joint statements on Libya or the wider regional unrest.
Lavrov's meeting with commission vice-president and EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton "is a good opportunity for a thorough discussion on current international issues," Moscow's man in town said. However, "we understand the complicated structures of the EU," Chizhov added with a smile.