At the current session, the participants are discussing prospects for rapprochement and cooperation between Russian and the European Union, and are examining avenues for overcoming recent frictions in the Russia-EU relations.
According to the head of the State Duma Committee for International Affairs, Konstantin Kosachev, the recent tensions in the Russia-EU relations primarily stem from the failure to settle transit (particularly, cargo transit) problems in the Kaliningrad region via Lithuania as well as violations of the Russian-speaking residents' rights in the Baltic countries.
In his interview with RIA Novosti, Governor of the Kaliningrad region Vladimir Yegorov, also pointed to the problems that had arisen from the recently established tougher transit regime in the area.
In turn, the Committee's coordinator State Duma deputy Vladimir Ryzhkov pointed out that ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by the State Duma on Friday would ease the current tensions between Moscow and Brussels.
A report summing up the session's results and containing relevant recommendations will be forwarded to Russia's President and Government as well as to the heads of EU national Governments.
The Committee `Russia in the United Europe` was set up in 2001 as an organization of Russian and European politicians and public figures promoting integration of Russia into the European Union and conscious of Russia's strategic significance for the future of Europe.
