European Union (EU) foreign ministers wrapped up their two-day meeting in Brdo on Saturday, eyeing closer ties with Russia and the Western Balkan region.
Although the informal meeting was opened with an in-depth discussion on the Middle East, foreign minister from the 27 EU member states were more occupied with the tricky relations with Russia on the first day.
The discussions were designed to make preparations for an EU-Russia summit to take place in Siberia in June. It will be the first summit for the EU to meet with Russian President-elect Dmitry Medvedev.
The leadership change in Russia gave the EU hope to improve their bilateral ties, which have been clouded by disruptions in energy supply, the deadlock in launching negotiations for a new partnership agreement and their most recent rift on the self-declared independence of Kosovo.
"We will shortly have a new Russian administration, new Russian president and new Russian Prime Minister. Even if I am not expecting a major policy shift, I think there is an opportunity and we should take this opportunity to open a new chapter in our partnership with Russia," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.
Her call was echoed by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
"Russia has voted. There will be a new President Medvedev and I believe that is an opportunity that we should use," he told reporters on arrival for the meeting.
