The EU enlargement commissioner described the EU's relations with Russia as a "strategic partnership" based on "strong mutual interests and interdependence."
The EU commissioner said he was confident the EU-Russia summit which begins in Brussels on Tuesday will confirm the progress made by Russia and the EU towards Russia's WTO accession.
"The EU's overarching goal is to bind Russia into a rules-based international and multilateral order, including the WTO, because transparency and predictability are the key to good economic and political relations, and because Russia itself has an enormous potential contribution to make to strengthening global order," Stefan Fule said.
Fule also said a new comprehensive EU-Russia agreement currently being negotiated by the sides will help "better capture the potential of EU-Russia relations, which have been underperforming over the last years."
Russian Presidential Aide Sergei Prikhodko said on Monday the main part of the new Russia-EU partnership agreement is expected to be completed next year.
Talks on a new agreement started in June 2008 but stalled after Russia fought off a Georgian attempt to reclaim the former republic of South Ossetia in August. They were resumed four months later.
Fule said it was essential for Russia and the EU to pursue cooperation in foreign policy, especially in security, climate change and tackling regional disputes.
"We must engage with Russia to advance our interests and defend our values," the commissioner said.
BRUSSELS, December 7 (RIA Novosti)
