EuroparlTV brought together three leading MEPs to discuss developments in the relations between Russia and the EU on the eve of their summit meeting in Rostov-on-Don. We delve deep into questions of human rights violations, energy power plays and the Katy

Forum: EU-Russia relations

in which I'll discuss EU-Russia relations   with three leading MEPs.

On the eve of the latest summit meeting   between the two sides in Rostov-on-Don,

and what is likely to change   in the months and years ahead.

Joachim Zeller, a German Member   of the European People's Party;

next to him is a Polish MEP,   Paweł Kowal,

who sits with the European   Conservatives and Reformists;

and finally Tatjana Ždanoka of the Group   of the Greens/European Free Alliance.

Before we begin, let's look at   this short report from Andreas Rogal.

Recent years haven't been good   for relations between Russia and the EU.

Russia's war with Georgia, the dispute   over gas supplies with Ukraine

and the deterioration of human rights   and the rule of law -

all have played their part   in testing relations.

What we need in   the negotiations with Russia

is reliability and predictability   on both sides.

that the rule of law will   increasingly be applied in Russia.

Europe is far from united in its view   of the big neighbour in the near East.

The friendly camp is led by Germany   and the sceptical camp by Poland.

Lately Russia has made efforts   towards a rapprochement with Poland,

with the unexpected tragedy at Smolensk   reinforcing the process.

To many MEPs,   chances are now better than ever

to find the elusive single European voice   in talks with Russia.

I think that we are closer to one voice.   We know the problems in the past.

There is a new understanding   of interdependence

Russia is seeking   a more liberal visa regime

and a new partnership   for economic modernisation,

while the EU's most pressing concern   is legal certainty and reliability

Parliament also wants human rights   to be on the agenda.

to speak about the situation   in the Northern Caucasus,

specifically in Dagestan,   Ingushetia, Chechnya.

They are kidnapped, they are mistreated,

and I think these are very serious things   that the EU should pay attention to.

Just before the EU-Russia summit   in Rostov at the end of the month,

on a new EU-Russia cooperation   agreement will have concluded.

will be a good indicator of how much   can be achieved at the summit.

Let's start with Paweł Kowal   from Poland.

The Russian acceptance of   the Katyn massacre, in the first place,

sympathy expressed over the death   of your President Lech Kaczyński

and the attendance of Dmitry Medvedev   at the funeral in Krakow,

Has it softened Polish attitudes   towards Russia at all?

Polish attitudes towards Russia   always were friendly.

There are no conflicts between   the Polish and Russian societies.

We always discussed political conflicts,   which remains unchanged.

On the one hand, we have   the beautiful gestures of the Russians,

of those I met myself   on the streets of Smolensk.

Politicians made beautiful gestures too,

but nothing has changed   as far as concrete actions go.

Regarding the Katyn massacre   aspects related to documents,

or legal aspects, remain unchanged   on the Russian side.

Maybe this will change,   following the current events.

If yes, we'll talk about it,   because we're hoping for it.

The situation is similar in the energy   sector, in Central European politics.

If there are changes   Poland will be the first one to speak

because we want to improve   these relations.

but nothing has changed   in political relations.

It wasn't until 1989 that Mikhail   Gorbachev, then President of Russia,

admitted that the Katyn massacre   had been carried out by Soviet troops.

The film made by a Polish filmmaker   about the massacre

was shown initially in Russia   on an arts channel,

but it was finally shown   on the main channel Rossiya.

Do you feel that shows that Russia's   attitude towards Poland is changing too?

The issue of Katyn always came up   when Russian leaders

wanted to put an end to Stalinism.   It happened under Khrushchev.

There are rumours   he wanted to deal with this issue.

Katyn was a matter   of internal competition

President Medvedev now declares   he'd like to be done with Stalinism

There also important gestures such as   showing the movie of Andrzej Wajda,

the official publishing of documents   known to historians.

But there are no changes   on the judicial level.

The official version of   the Russian prosecutor's office is

that the Katyn massacre cannot be   linked to particular orders.

According to this, Polish citizens   cannot claim justice in Strasbourg.

Some symbolic steps were made   already under Gorbachev and Yeltsin,

but we still have to wait   for the legal steps,

and for the Katyn investigation   carried out by contemporary Russia.

We are waiting to receive   documents from the investigation.

If those documents were published,   the situation would be different.

how much do you feel attitudes in Europe   towards Russia

were changed by the conflict in Georgia   and what happened there?