Good results from two days of consultations
Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel sees Germany and Russia as partners in a "modernisation partnership". Following his two-day trip to Russia Minister Gabriel stated: "Environment and energy technologies from Germany can significantly contribute to reducing the energy and resource intensity of the Russian economy." In his consultations with the Russian Environment Minister Yuri Trutnev, the Minister for Economic Affairs Elvira Nabiulina and Premier Koksharov of the Sverdlovsk region Minister, Gabriel entered into specific agreements concerning the future cooperation of the two countries.
The Russian Minister for Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr Yuri Trutnev, and the Minister for Economic Affairs, Ms Elvira Nabiulina, stressed that improving the efficient use of resources is of utmost priority for the Russian government. In order to achieve this, new efficiency standards are to be developed in the short term. The Russian side expressed a strong interest in drawing on German experience in this context. Support is also hoped for with regard to the rehabilitation of contaminated sites and the improvement of plant safety.
In addition to this, there are plans for large investments in industry in general and the housing industry. Trutnev and Nabiulina expressed the wish that German companies participate in this modernisation process. Federal Minister Gabriel assured support for initiatives on behalf of the German government. For this purpose there is to be an intensive exchange in order to adjust the legislative framework conditions and pilot projects are to be carried out.
Funds from the international initiative for climate protection of the Federal Environment Ministry are to support financing facilities of the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). These funds are to be used to finance investments for increasing energy efficiency in small- and medium-sized companies and expanding the use of renewable energies.
During his visit to Yekaterinburg Federal Environment Minister Gabriel met with Premier Koksharov of the Sverdlovsk region and members of his government. They agreed on a close cooperation in the field of energy efficiency and wastes in particular. The Sverdlovsk region is the industrial centre of the Russian Federation and thus offers many starting points for cooperation projects with German industry, in particular the heavy industry. Minister Gabriel said: "I am impressed by the economic dynamism in Russia and the political will to foster the priority of environmental protection."
In the course of the last German-Russian government consultations in Wiesbaden in October 2007, Gabriel and Trutnev had agreed to intensify economy-related environmental cooperation. Minister Gabriel was accompanied on his trip to Russia by 30 representatives of German industry and business, Members of Parliament and representatives of German environmental associations.