A first meeting in London between the British foreign secretary, Robin Cook andthe new German foreign minister, Joschka Fischer, has singled out Russia as a top priority for the European Union.

Mr Cook said they had agreed that Europe neded a common strategy towards Russia as a matter of urgency.

He said Europe could not be prosperous and secure unless it addressed both the political and the economic problems in Russia.The British and German ministers said that theother foreign policy priority for the EU was Kosovo; they had to turn the agreement negotiated with Prsident Milosevic into reality on the ground.

Mr Fischer, who belongs to the radical Green Party, said Germany would use force only with the clear backing of international consensus and law.

Mr Cook and Mr Fischer also signalled a new era of closer cooperation between Britain and Germany by agreeing to hold formal meetings at least twice a year.