BRUSSELS, July 20. /TASS/. The European Union (EU) may reframe its energy relationship with Russia "when the conditions are proper," according to the final statement approved by the EU Council at the ministerial level on Monday.
"When the conditions are proper, the EU will proceed accordingly in reframing the energy relationship with Russia, based on a level playing field in terms of market opening, fair competition, environmental protection and safety, for the mutual benefit of both sides," the document said.
"Foreign policy instruments and channels for engagement should be used to open up opportunities for cooperation with increasingly important producing and transit countries particularly in our neighborhood, including the need to ensure, in line with the ongoing trilateral talks, the long-term energy supplies to and transit through Ukraine, also in the context of potential new infrastructure projects, and to further strengthen the Energy Community, notably by promoting energy reforms, including energy efficiency, among all its members; with established key EU partners such as the US, Norway and Canada as well as other major interlocutors, notably China, India, Brazil and other important countries particularly those identified in the Energy Union Framework Strategy," the EU Council said.
"Diplomatic support should focus on the Southern Gas Corridor, the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia; the strategic potential of the Eastern-Mediterranean region; the Euro-Mediterranean energy cooperation in the Southern Neighborhood; the wider Middle East region; new energy sources in the Americas, Africa and Australia, including the potential of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)," the report said.