John Bruton
Question:36 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ireland's position on ultimate Russian membership of the European Union. [4317/98]
Written Answers - EU Membership.
The Russian Federation has not submitted an application to accede to membership of the European Union and this question has not therefore arisen for consideration. The contractual basis for the Russian Federation's relations with the European Union is the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement — PCA — which entered into force on 1 December 1997.
Ireland attaches importance to the successful development of EU-Russia relations and supports efforts to establish a substantial and sound partnership with Russia. In this regard, the full integration of Russia into the international community and support for Russia's economic and political reforms remain the fundamentals of EU policy relating to the Russian Federation.
The first meeting of the EU-Russia Co-operation Council under the PCA, which was helden marge of the General Affairs Council on 26-27 January 1998, represented a decisive step forward in our relations with Russia. The PCA reflects the importance which the European Union attaches to its relations with the Russian Federation as a key partner for the promotion of peace and security and it marks the path for Russia's return to economic Europe as an equal partner.