” “An admittedly “decisive” summit for relations between the EU and Russia; an “informal” two days’ work for the Ministers of Foreign Affairs about the “Future of Europe”; the meeting with religious leaders to reflect on the contribution of the believers’ communities to dialogue, intercultural understanding and to “appeasing any tension” existing in the continent. Important appointments are high on the agendas of the twenty-five member countries, starting from tomorrow’s meeting with the Russian Federation in Sochi, on the Black Sea, which will be attended by EU leaders (Wolfgang Schüssel, José Manuel Barroso, Javier Solana) and the head of the government of Moscow, Vladimir Putin. The focus of the debate will be on foreign policy and the energy issue. On Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th, the heads of the diplomacies of the member states will meet in Klosterneuenburg, Austria, invited by the presidency of the EU Council, to prepare the summit for mid-June, which shall decide the continuation of the ratification of the Constitution. On Tuesday May 30th, the head of Barroso’s Commission and Austrian Chancellor Schüssel will meet in Brussels the Christian, Jewish, Muslin and Buddhist leaders to reflect on “Fundamental rights and mutual respect in Europe”. A release of the Commission states that “the discussion will focus on the universal values shared by the EU countries”, including “freedom, democracy and respect of man’s rights”.
