EU and Russia seek better links

European and Russian leaders have differences to overcome

EU and Russian leaders are expected to sign new agreements at a summit in Moscow on Tuesday, despite a series of recent disagreements.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso says he wants to push relations to a "new and higher level".

Deals are likely to be sealed in key areas such as trade, investments, transport and scientific exchanges.

But differences remain over human rights, former Soviet republics, and Russian emigrants.

EU-Russia summits are regular, but often tense affairs, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels.

In the past few years, they have been overshadowed by rows over Chechnya, the EU's eastwards expansion and Western support for the democratic changes in Ukraine.

Trade

Already this year there have been clashes over demands for Russia to apologise for its post-war occupation of the Baltic countries, which became EU members last year.

But delegates say they are determined to look past disagreements and reach consensus on important issues.

Much of the business will be to do with the economy, focusing on transport, energy, trade and investment opportunities in Russia.

The EU is Russia's biggest trading partner, while Russia supplies more than one third of Europe's gas and oil.

But there are also political issues to be faced.

Migration

"Many Russian leaders now view the EU as a hostile power that is expanding into Russia's traditional sphere of influence," says Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, in a recent paper.

"The EU, meanwhile, has become increasingly concerned about Russia's eroding democratic standards and weak regard for human rights."

Another sticking point has been the lingering conflicts in the former Soviet republics which now lie between Russia and an expanded EU.

Countries like Moldova and Georgia want closer ties with the EU, while trying to persuade Moscow to keep long-standing pledges to withdraw its troops and weapons, says our correspondent.

Travel and migration is also delicate issues.

Russia wants visa rules eased, while the EU is demanding that Russia takes back migrants who have entered Western Europe illegally.