Opinions
Benita Ferrero-Waldner
“EU/Russia a challenging partnership: But one of the most important of our times.”
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commission, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, 2008.

Years after the end of the Cold War, the relationship between the EU and Russia is multifaceted, with elements of a strategic partnership, a loose alliance, a goal-oriented and an openly competitive relationship. As such, the relevance of the forum has been growing constantly.

As a supplier of energy and raw materials, Russia is gaining geopolitical weight and economic power and has the confidence to assume a leading role in international politics. For its part, the EU not only offers Russia’s most important foreign trading partners – with Germany at the top of the list – it is also a key player in global politics.

The EU and Russia can only ensure successful cooperation by maintaining a constant and open dialogue in the political decision-making process. The EU-Russia Forum serves this purpose. It is supported by the EU Commission, the Russian presidential administration and European research institutes in each country where the forum takes place. The forum is organised by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), in close cooperation with the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations (OA) and Deutsche Bank. ]