The EU-Russia summit on Thursday (25 May) is set to see a friendly new visa deal, but EU mistrust of Russia's energy muscle and mounting tension between Washington and Moscow will give a dark edge to the talks.
Under the visa deal, EU and Russian citizens will be able to visit each other for €35 a trip from 2007 onward.
The half-day meeting in Sochi, on the Black Sea, will also open negotiations on a post-2007 "Strategic Partnership Treaty" between the two powers and see debates...
Back our independent journalism by becoming a supporting member
Already a member? Login hereAndrew Rettman is EUobserver's Foreign Affairs Editor. He has been writing about foreign and security affairs for EUobserver since 2005. He is Polish but grew up in the UK. He has also written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Times of London.
Andrew Rettman is EUobserver's Foreign Affairs Editor. He has been writing about foreign and security affairs for EUobserver since 2005. He is Polish but grew up in the UK. He has also written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Times of London.