Rome and Moscow have a relatively strong and deep-rooted partnership that is likely to stand the test of time. This peculiar partnership works on the basis that neither Russia nor Italy interferes in the domestic affairs of the other, and they recognise their respective spheres of influence. This means that Italy’s Russia policy does not fit well with the EU’s overall approach. It also helps to explain Rome’s reluctant support for EU sanctions against Russia.

Though the EU and Russia have vacillated between political cooperation and confrontation over the last twenty-five years, economic relations between Europe’s two leading players have remained pragmatic and relatively stable. 

Petersburg Dialogue is an open forum for discussing current issues in Russian-German relations. Meetings take place every year, alternating between the two countries, with politicians, academics, cultural figures, and journalists from both countries taking part.

Several trends are likely to affect French policies towards Russia and the Eastern neighbourhood in the coming decade and beyond. France’s foreign policy activism is largely pursued within the EU and NATO.

Judges

On June 16–18, the 20th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum was held, bringing together more than 12,000 participants from 133 countries, including media representatives and accompanying persons.

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1.  Role of G20 in tackling the international refugee crisis

Based on Number of Meetings held with Commission Officials

Since 1 December 2014 Commissioners, their Cabinets and Director-Generals publish their meetings and only meet with lobbyists registered in the EU Transparency Register. The Commission also pledged to ensure an appropriate balance and representativeness in the stakeholders they meet.