EU is all set to launch talks with Russia to negotiate a partnership accord most likely in April 2008 after it made significant progress on the long-stalled mandate to negotiate the accord with Moscow. Progress was achieved with the concerns of Poland and Lithuania - which have been blocking the talks since 2006, were addressed as the EU ambassadors agreed to annex two statements dealing with security of energy supplies to the draft document1.

• 1. Paul Taylor, “EU nears Russia talks mandate, deal seen in April,” The Guardian, March 19, 2008, at http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7397661