Summarising the outcome of the 20th anniversary of the Russia-EU summit, Vladimir Putin called the fivefold increase in trade since 2000 the most eloquent testimony of the importance for both sides of EU-Russia relations.
He noted that, in the ten years since the signing of the Russia-EU basic agreement, a great deal has been accomplished. This applies to political, economic and cultural cooperation.
The anniversary summit confirmed once again that the issue of beginning talks on a new basic agreement is an internal EU matter. In addition, the President underlined the primary importance of confirming that the countries' strategic partnership will be continued.