Wallström heads for Moscow
Europe's Environment Commissioner, Margot Wallström, is visiting Moscow from 9 to 11 May for high-level talks aimed at strengthening the EU-Russia dialogue and cooperation on environmental issues. The discussions will aim to help define common priorities for inclusion in a Communication this autumn setting out ideas and options for further discussion on the environment between the EU and Russia. 'Russia is hugely important to the global and EU environment. The EU and Russia face a range of common environmental concerns such as energy, climate change, ozone depletion, loss of biodiversity, nuclear safety, air and water pollution and the Baltic and Black Seas,' said Commissioner Wallström before the trip. 'Environmental interaction between the EU and Russia and the need for cooperation will grow steadily as the EU enlarges to the east and the economic transformation of central Europe and Russia proceeds...while existing structures offer sufficient opportunity to develop a substantive dialogue, there is a clear need for greater political commitment to realise the full potential,' she added.