Tomorrow's EU-Russia Summit will be a backward looking affair. Differences over Moscow's compliance with the EU-sponsored peace deal and its democratic record must be aired before we can move on in the spirit of engagement and cooperation.

"Russia is no longer a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Its political tactics and military over-reaction to the conflict in Georgia made clear that its leaders' instincts are more imperial than democratic " argued ALDE Leader Graham Watson MEP (UK, LibDems). "Visa threats and WTO grandstanding will have little effect on Russian decision-making. Europe's best leverage is the size of its market and its investment. At a time when Russia has yet to digest massive stock market losses and a drop in oil prices, the economic arguments coupled with diversified energy imports will prove most persuasive ".

Russia's actions in Georgia have put into question the possibility of creating a common security space with the EU   

Janusz Onyszkiewicz

Janusz Onyszkiewicz MEP (Poland, Partia Demokratyczna) EP Rapporteur on EU-Russia agreement said: "Russia's actions in Georgia have put into question the possibility of creating a common security space with the EU. It seems that we do not share the same values which is a precondition for a strategic partnership. At the Summit it will be necessary to point out to Moscow that it has not fulfilled its obligations from the August and September agreements with Georgia. The Russian armed forces have not withdrawn to the positions held before hostilities began. The EU also needs to make sure that massive military pre-emptive operations - like that in Abkhazia - do not become a common instrument of Russian politics."

"The EU stands at a crucial juncture in its relations with Russia. The decision to resume the negotiations of a new co-operation agreement must be accompanied by rigorous demands of compliance with the earlier agreement on a cease-fire with Georgia. As long as Russia has not completed its withdrawal there can be "no-business-as-usual", added MEP Henrik Lax (Finland, Svenska Folkpartiet).