29-10-00 Russian President Vladimir Putin and European leaders will broach big ideas on ways the European Union can tap into Russia's vast energy reserves but few concrete steps are likely to emerge at the biannual EU-Russia summit. Long-term energy security has become a hot topic in Europe with oil prices soaring and following weeks of giant protests against high gas prices in many European nations earlier this fall.
Europe is increasingly interested in securing sources of natural gas and oil beyond OPEC and is looking to Russia as a potential partner. Russia, which wants foreign investment to develop its energy infrastructure, has been courting Europe.
Deputy Premier Viktor Khristenko, the senior Russian official on EU matters, said Russia at this summit hoped to begin a high-level energy dialogue concerning "the energy security of Europe in the 21st century" that would lead to concrete deals about future pipelines and other energy projects. That grand scheme is a major focus of the talks between Putin, French President Jacques Chirac in his role as head of the rotating EU presidency, European Commission President Romano Prodi and other EU officials.

In addition to energy issues, Khristenko said Putin would discuss the enlargement of the 15-member European Union and the economic and political impact on Russia, economic and financial cooperation, as well as scientific and technical links. The explosive situation in the Middle East, the Balkans, NATO expansion as well as strategic issues were also expected to be discussed.
Putin said Russia welcomed the expansion of the European Union, but opposes NATO growth in Eastern Europe as long as the Western military alliance doesn't want Russia as a member. "The idea of a greater Europe seems quite attractive to me, a Europe in which there should be no hegemonism of any kind," Putin said.
Since the loss of its superpower status with the 1991 Soviet disintegration, Russia has sought to boost economic and political ties with Europe and Asia to try to counterbalance US global dominance. Russia's relations with Europe have been soured by criticism of Russia's war against Chechen separatists and Russia's anger over last year's NATO bombing of Yugoslavia to break the Kosovo crisis. At least one demonstration sponsored by a group of famous French intellectuals opposed to Russia's intervention in Chechnya was planned.