On July 9, 2020, the Russia-EU Forum video conference was held to discuss the geopolitical and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global recession. The conference was held by the Russian International Affairs Council, Aspen Institute (Italy), in cooperation with European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), and with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
On July 9, 2020, the Russia-EU Forum video conference was held to discuss the geopolitical and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global recession. The conference was held by the Russian International Affairs Council, Aspen Institute (Italy), in cooperation with European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), and with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The opening remarks were made by Pasquale Terracciano, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic to the Russian Federation, who noted that the coronavirus pandemic not only damaged the economies of the two countries, but also showed opportunities for cooperation at European and global levels.
Russian side at the conference was represented by Andrey Kortunov, RIAC Director General; Dmitry Suslov, Deputy Director of the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics; Yaroslav Lisovolik, RIAC Member; Leonid Grigoryev, Principal Adviser to the Head of the Analytical Centre under the Government of the Russian Federation; and Oksana Antonenko, Director at the Global Political Risk team at the UK-based Control Risks Group. The European side was represented by Marta Dassu, Senior Advisor European Affairs, Aspen Institute; Charles Grant, Director of Centre for European Reform in London; Daniel Gros, Director of the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) in Brussels; Giampiero Massolo, President of ISPI; Pier Carlo Padoan, Member of the Italian Parliament (Chamber of Deputies), as well as experts and staff of Aspen Institute.
Having discussed the reports on the impact of the pandemic on relations between Russia and the EU, post-recession recovery, and the erosion of globalization, conference participants began a general discussion. RIAC will continue cooperation with Aspen Institute on Russia-EU relations.
