Trade relations between the EU-27 and Russia are growing: between 2000 and 2007, the trade of goods has multiplied; the trade of services and direct investments are growing too. This has been found by Eurostat, in the run-up to the summit between the EU and the Russian Government, planned for 14th November in Nice, France. The EU Statistics Office adds that "this fast growth continued during the first half of 2008: the value of exports from the EU countries to Russia has risen from 40 billion euros in the first half of 2007 to 50 billion euros" in the same period this year. An equally positive sign is given by imports from Russia to the EU-27, which have risen from 69 billion euros in the first six months of 2007 to 88 billion euros from January to June 2008. Russia accounts for 8% of the total exports from the European Union and for 11% of imports to the 27 EU member states. The big Eurasian country is actually the third trade partner of the EU, after the United States and China. Financial crisis and worldwide economic situation will be the items on the agenda of the summit, which will also discuss the Caucasian conflict, energy and climate change.
