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AEB met with the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell

06.02.2021

On February 06, 2021, AEB Chairman of the Board Johan Vanderplaetse and AEB CEO Tadzio Schilling met with the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell


The meeting took place in the framework of the official visit of Mr Borrell to Moscow and was also attended by EU Ambassador Markus Ederer, Head of Cabinet of the High Representative Pedro Serrano, Deputy Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia of the EEAS Luc Pierre Devigne, and Head of the Trade and Economic Section of the EU Delegation Laurent Bardon.

AEB considers it very important that the head of European diplomacy decided to visit Russia despite the global pandemic and unstable geopolitical circumstances. Members of the Association fully share the view that despite significant disagreements on a number of issues, we should continue to seek common ground for the sake of future prospects.

 “The AEB is obviously very concerned about the many difficulties we see in the relationship between Russia and the European Union” said Johan Vanderplaetse, adding that “still, we continue to believe that the only way to move forward is via dialogue. Europe and Russia will always remain neighbors, and the cultural, economic and social ties will always unite us. None will benefit from further escalations and we are therefore hopeful that, once emotions abide, we will move again towards fruitful cooperation”.

Indeed, Russia and the EU have a broad range of areas for potential collaboration: ensuring that the digital transformation will profit to all layers of society, fighting the coronavirus pandemic and making our healthcare systems more resilient, combating climate change, strengthening EU-EAEU technical regulation dialogue and harmonization, as well as continuing educational and research programs. 

The AEB welcomes every step, even small ones, taken in this direction and would like to thank Mr. Borrell and his team for his visit and for taking the time to listen to the issues and views of European business in Russia.

Photo (c) EC - Audiovisual Service


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