thank you. very. much.

it's five thirty pm here in moscow you're watching our t.v.'s our top stories a final vote on plans to implement new austerity measures is underway in greece after days of massive protests against radical measures to pull the country out of its debt hole. the u.k. braces itself for mass destruction as hundreds of thousands of public sector workers prepare for twenty four hours of industrial action they're responding to planned changes to pay and pensions thousands of teachers civil servants and border control officers say the plans mean more work for reducing tensions. moscow points to double standards of the u.n. over the organization's position on syria saying the crisis warrants a peaceful solution foreign minister sergei lavrov says the security council should be calling for action public nor in what he describes as

a civil war in yemen. but many countries tightening their belts and feeling the effects of the economic downturn we ask whether the world is really getting value for money spotlight is next here on our. hello and welcome to spotlight today into a show on arts and i'm already operating today my guest in the studio is. the reason russia has left some of the diplomats questioning your true officials critics saying such summits cost too much and aren't very effective but maybe this lady was an exceptional russian and you feel need is compromised the moscow's ban on the move and move pretty good progress on a visa free regime but is there anything that still remains and so here's the head

of the european union delegation to russia to tell them go. ask those battling back to the european benadryl stole the headlines of the russia e.u. summit. some other topics moscow wanted to discuss like become dissipated because of the regime's talks on that started almost a decade ago but progress has been slow russia are still going through consultations and experts say they will take at least a month but the fact that words have become actions they say could be seen as a sign of optimism. thank you very much for coming thank you well first of all i want to start with this main question this this may news that came out after the summit in new. diplomats reporters experts started questioning the frequency of the summit they

efficiency of the summit that really are costly so is it true and do you think that it really may become a case that the. frequency of the summit will be reduced. no i mean everything is possible but it's not something that is on the agenda right now this has never been discussed and our think that for the time being at least this frequency of the summit has a certain a certain value our summit saw an opportunity of course on the one hand to solve issues of problems but not only that it's also an opportunity a unique opportunity for leaders to get together to get to know each other better to discuss about issues of common interest not only about the bilateral relationship but also how do we perceive in c. certain problems in the world how to solve them and they have this opportunity which i think is sincerely valuable. this week actually on

july the first poland is taking chairmanship in the european union and this country is anything but indifferent towards russia we have special relations with poland and we have problems in our relations with poland well what do you expect from polish chairmanship in the european union and do you think that poland will have a special russian agenda for his chairmanship. i don't know i mean pollen is going to present his priorities for the presidency of the opinion soon. of course things have changed since the entry into force of the lisbon treaty and now the rotating presidency has no longer the responsibility for external relations or the. presidency of the european council but it has is still the responsibility of the presidency for a number of issues of policies and i'm sure that poland will make

a very good presidency they have been preparing themselves for that we know that we know that they are ready and i have no doubt that they will have will do a very good presidency and in terms of a russian poland relations russia e.u. relations do you think that that poland polish presidency will. play some role in making this russian issue special for the e.u. and for relations with were not directly in the sense that they are not responsible for the foreign relations in there actually on a number of issues it might it might have of course a bearing but but not on what is the bilateral relations between russia and the e.u. which is a matter now for the institutions in brussels. on the twenty seventh of june russian and the european union diplomats had their meeting on visa related issues and agreed on some i quote joint. action steps on the way to these

a free travel could you specify what have these joint action steps well this is something that came out of the not this dust summit but the previous summit where we agreed that the best way to be more efficient in making progress would be to identify were of the problems which are the issues that need to be solved in order to reach one day these bits of regime so if we don't these after that this working groups got together start working identifying which. those issues would be now they have almost come to an end not completely and that's why i cannot give you a complete list of it because it has still been been dealt with but i am quite convinced that in a matter of perhaps a few weeks we would have at least of these come steps that we call because are the steps that we are going to tackle together and the idea is that when this is steps

article we will get to the views of the regime this may be a still a long process let's not create false potentials of this because some of these steps will be relatively simple in fast or those will take longer not for the matter of lack of will to solve them but simply because the issues are more complex issues related to for instance the gratian from the countries issues related to with a border control number of issues which are not simple and you cannot resolve just in one day. when you say. hard issues difficult issues issues that will take years to tackle you mean the ball is on the russian side or both both i mean there will be you know in our view there will be more balls on the russian side absent from the russian president there will be more balls on our side to be a two way to a tragedy said to which yes ok you mentioned border control well actually the e.u.

is a funny organization on the one hand they're talking with russia on a visa free regime something that was unthinkable of like ten twenty years ago russians coming levity but on the other hand you are. imposing mechanisms to to put border control inside the shell game zone in sight i think you're a bit which is funny i mean i mean this sounds like a complete contradiction of things i think it sounds like a contradiction but let's be let's be concrete i think this measures that have been approved are first exceptional measures to be applied exceptionally and. temporally the russian say there is nothing as as constant as temporary measures and sometimes sometimes it's true but i feel that this is not the is not the case now i think this is this is meant to deal with very punctual situations i think the case in place was this case in which on the other hand italy and france agreed that these migrants that came all of the southern due to the commission in libyan crisis in

that were caught in italy going into france and so also then france realized that there was a need to to establish to control these doesn't mean to reestablish the borders or to restart is the customs or anything like that but simply a control freak entity for the people going through this does not in any way of course affect the rights of the different e.u. nationals and citizens who have the right to move freely around in the e.u. cetera or all the people that are that have a document that allows them like for instance the visa to travel around freely so this is a matter of control not a matter of establishing a prohibition or a limitation but these limitations inside europe limitations on free travel for ignorance they will not. influence the process of negotiating the visa free russian well ok the e.u.

nationals that work and russia that stay in russia you know a lot of them and you know their main complaints they all complain about the bureaucratic hassle the bureaucratic restrictions in russia one of them is the registration we have to have registration wherever you go in russia and this is a headache for for europeans there was the issue of the registration and maybe other problems faced by europeans in russia what they discussed during the summit and did russia promise anything to to make it easier to live life easier . that on the way hand i think we have to take note it's very important that russia already modify somehow the legislation this year and exactly to make it easier and less or less of a difficulty this whole thing up of registration delays for a few stray ssion in all aspects so that this one one thing that i think we have to

acknowledge the other thing is that when we are discussing of all the free regime. in due course this will also imply aspects of registration not only in russia but also in india in the which we are going to discuss the beautifully meaning we are going to discuss about free access. one to another territory so yes in that respect the commitment is that we will discuss everything and russia has not objected to this but of course this will come in due course speaking about lawmaking and the state duma deputy mr lebedev proposed recently a draft law aiming to punish foreign citizens including the e.u. nationals who i quote violated the rights of russian citizens and the law implies freezing bank accounts of such individuals. do you think the e.u. will somehow reacts to this legislation i don't know i cannot say because of course this this is only one one line we will have to look at it and see exactly what is

on it what we of course respect is whatever decision is taken it will be a decision that will be according to international standards and international principles and of course a quarantine by law and by the just happens it is it will be unprecedented would well but it happens i mean if you commit a crime i don't know if we are talking that in you citizen or whoever commits a crime well it has to be trial and brought to justice to be trial and eventually can be condemned to something so if all that is the case in stone in the proper way there is nothing to object of course if that's not exactly the case all things are not talking in the proper way then there is a problem that says fernandez head of the european union delegation to russia spotlight we'll be back shortly to take a break so stay with us we'll continue this interview in the.

hungry for the full story we've got it. the biggest issues get the cuban voice face to face with the newsmakers. twenty years ago the largest country in the world disintegrated. what had been more each month each began a journey. where did it take them. if

you want to order. this st stone keeps its secrets. to reveal the soviet files on oxy. is he to.

say. welcome back to spotlight i'll go and often just a reminder that my guest in the studio today is fair and so i like head of the european union delegation to russia. mr one and so on that recently on june the eighth if i'm not mistake. prime minister putin made the remark he said travel rules should be equal for all russian citizens but this remark caused concern among the citizens among the russians who live in kaliningrad because there they have been discussions on

a special agreement on special travel rules for the people because they live in an unpaved so so will these will these discussions. be continued despite this remark but. i i i cannot judge of all the remarks of course because it's made by the prime minister second i don't have the moments but the situation is that the people from kaliningrad have already a special regime which is a typical regime for. cross border traffic so people that the near the border normally have a special regime because both size installations fair which is fair i mean is normal is not only occasion kaliningrad in the e.u. but is in many other parts of of our borders in other parts of the world in fact and the question now is this regime is somehow being reconsidered to see if it has to stay as it is all it has to be enlarged made more flexible so we are working on

it on in or on our side we are simply working and it looking at the process in calls of different solutions and to be will see where it is the agreement so so so the europeans they do believe that people like the sense of current grad living in the special and special places like enclaves they should have special special regulations press with i've always been sensitive to these and as i say i mean we have this kind of arrangements with over all the areas ok the. e.u. summit was overshadowed by this round of the vegetables the scandal when the russians banned all european vegetables and russia is i think the biggest market for european vegetables so. are you sure do you think that this is fair that this problem had to be solved by president medvedev and the leaders of the european countries should it take such a high level to solve such

a problem i know probably probably probably what happened is that this happened just a few days before the summit where i said i hope that is the cucumber is all ok. this is going to converse all being possible of something that they have not done because it is not at all the local press your god gave i think with them as we keep this. historical moment but not what happened is that this problem arises and the ban also took place just a few days before this i mean so logically the issue was not solved by the time of the summit and the summit had to look at it. all the wise probably it would have been different but i think this simply shows also that summits and devote themselves to political issues are complex issues but also two very practical ones well the deadly strain of bacteria e-coli has taken dozens of lives it has spoiled relations between countries spotlights you'll admit there has more on this issue.

the may outbreak of all like in germany was only showing blamed on cucumbers from spain delegation sales of the vegetables to collapse by the time cucumbers were proved not to be the source spain's farmers had lost more than two hundred million euros amid speculations on what caused the outbreak russia decided to stay on the safe side and banned the import of all e.u. vegetables at the beginning of june that soured the country's ruination to the european union which called the russian move disproportionate the burn came as a serious blow to the european economy is russia should buy as it would to remove fresh vegetables exported by the e.u. . meanwhile this search for the infections led to beansprouts from northern germany and later it was reported that it was water which contaminated the vegetables the

vegetable we should top they gender at the russian e.u. summit in may june both sides eventually agreed on conditions for the removal of the embargo while the vegetable problem seems to have been resolved russia's agricultural watchdog has banned inputs from thirteen milk and meat factories in germany check show the factories failed to comply with russian how safe are the standards. paula so far only netherlands and belgium other countries cucumbers are free to travel to russia without a visa. what's the problem of the others i mean the other european countries they didn't give didn't provide the necessary documents so while i think our first let me say that this is not all these digitals of this country or that of a country to come in this is in european union matter. so i suppose that what we

are simply talking about is different stages in which the process is taking place. what it was agreed what the summit of course agreed on lifting the ban under certain conditions that had to be taking achille arranged this took place last week and there was a technical agreement on which are this e.u. budget all screwed be exported to russia or imported in russia come in with a certificate. in e.u. certificate extended by the national laboratories that the e.u. would. notify russia and would certify that these products of course were. necessary sanitary conditions. so what happens is that some countries that. commission notified to the russian authorities first but laboratories for a number of countries now i think i think i'm sure all the laboratories from other

countries have been also communicated and i think that the case here is that the first ones were this once so in in good logic the first products to get here were the ones of the first laboratories that had been communicated to the russian authorities so this is simply a matter of time and of course of the necessary certificates and for the products to come to the russian customs were the products and they said the case will be ready for. let's talk about the w.t. one of the favorite subjects to talk when it concerns russia and europe doubly turns one of one of the hits on the discussion so so let's stay in this state in the trend and the customs union russia bill russo because a stand. they are developing this custom union and it's called one of the main obstacles under way of russia's joining the w t o is it really obstacle and if it is what so what's so strange about it for the europeans no i think the question is

the following and i don't think it is an obstacle right now is not an obstacle right now because of russia decided to accede individually to the w t o and of course then make the necessary adjustments within the course of sheen for that what was a problem and was mainly a problem of time was to try to made the customs gene a member of the gluteal not because that is impossible in any way but simply because that would have meant to begin negotiations practically from scratch so i think this was the decision that was taken by russia was the right decision and are i think that we are very close now and in any case the customs union is not an issue on the table at this moment ok now another thing. i wanted to ask you is about one of your. interviews that you gave well some while ago you are quoted as saying that you said that the monopole lies in gazprom would be

a good thing for russia well when i read that i said mr bullen so is too much of a diplomat to say such a thing did you say something about gaspar recently even i don't i don't remember anything specifically to be from. this doesn't sound like you but what do you think about gazprom while it is a big company. big tower and do you think do you really agree that there are the polarization because it is a monopoly it calls itself a gas monopoly but they say they say they are alike and reginald monopoly i mean they should be available or do you think that maybe monopolize it and it may be good for russia or for russian partners abroad this is of course it is a matter of opinion so on it is that there is not one truth this is a matter of opinion and you can feel it one way or another. on the e.u. side we are not favorable to monopolies in general is not talking about that's probably talking about monopolies in general because we believe that competition is

a better way and a better instrument to get to get better prices to get quality for the consumers so this is our approach but of course is one on is own a specific situation and circumstances has to take its own decisions we cannot enter into that. last question the russian energy companies which are gas problem gas from near to gasp from gaza and gas from whatever. russian energy companies they are complaining that they have a lot of barriers in the european union. the barriers there are not letting them access the markets is it true and is the e.u. really to compromise on that but what have you heard i don't think that is exact or correct i think that. precisely i know that this third package which is the last legislation that the e.u. has passed on the energy market has elements on each that are not of the liking

of russia and the russian companies but is strong in the heart of the reasons we have are all reasons but i think one one aspect is normally underestimated the third package gives precisely the right to foreign companies including the russian companies to accede to the e.u. market i think this is more than we can save your way around so i think that even if the third package is true that introduces some measures these measures are not meant for russian companies they are meant for all the companies they are also meant for evil companies so they are not discriminatory and in exchange they give the russian companies right off axis thank you thank you for a note it was a pleasure talking to you as usual and jessica reminded that my guest in the studio today was very mannerable and so i last had our the european union delegation to russia and that thirteen now from our spotlight will be back with more for us and

comment on what's going on and outside russia until then stay on our team and thank you you thank .

it.