Two weeks before its scheduled debate on EU-Russia relations, European Commission Secretary-General David O'Sullivan was advised to toughen the EC's stance towards Russia. A confidential memo prepared for Mr. O'Sullivan was behind the decision to call for "objectives…which should draw 'red lines' for the EU" prior to all Russia summits. The report concludes, "In a thinly veiled reference to the Khodorovsky affair, the Commission's communication points to 'selective application of the law' by Russia and concerns over the build-up to December's parliamentary election, during which the pro-Putin United Russia was given greater media coverage than other parties." (Source: European Voice.)
