EU Heads of state and government will try to advance energy talks with Russia during their informal meeting on 20 October in Lahti, Finland. On this occasion, the European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) party puts forward specific policy proposals for a coherent energy policy towards Russia. Highlighting the need for a common EU position in energy negotiations with Russia, ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts said: “Russia favors agreement on energy issues on bilateral head of state levels. This policy effectively marginalizes possibilities for smaller EU member states to influence the price and supply of Russian energy to their countries. Europe should respond with a more coherent policy on the demand side”. The ELDR Party adopted a resolution on 13 October calling for a common energy policy for the EU including its relations with Russia and calling on Member states to: give the European Commission a mandate for EU-level energy demand negotiations and agreements with Russia.put a strong emphasis on the energy issues between the EU and Russia in their dialogue with RussiaMoreover, the ELDR Party believes that the EU and its Member States must come up with solutions with regard to the use by Russia of the energy card as a foreign policy tool. The gas dispute between Ukraine and Russia in January 2006 was the first one to also affect the gas import from Russia to some EU countries. This incident bodes ill for the future. The European Liberal Democrats urge the Commission to work actively with the Southern CIS and Mediterranean states in order to develop alternative export routes for their energy supply to Europe.