Italy wants to be able to be friends with Russia despite EU sanctions

From July 1st, Italy is the President of the European Council. One of the main topics for Rome is fence-mending with Russia.

The question, how can the Italian presidency of the EU Council, which started on July 1, be useful for the resumption of the dialogue with Russia, is often asked in Rome these days. Many still remember 2003, when the Italian presidency of the EU Council gave an impetus to the expansion of cooperation between Russia and Europe. A few months ago, the Italians laid ambitious plans on the current presidency to find a compromise on the most contentious issues in relations between Russia and the EU. For example, new basic agreement between Russia and the EU, which Moscow and Brussels can’t sign for several years, a visa-free regime, the problem of non-compliance of South Stream with requirements of the European energy legislation. After the events in the Ukraine and against the background of Brussels’ threats to impose the third package of sanctions against Russia, we can’t expect the solving of these problems. However most of the Kommersant’s interlocutors in Rome are sure that the damage from the crisis in the relations with Moscow will be able to be minimized.