Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, Mr Schultz. Good afternoon, colleagues. I am happy to see you here.

As far as I recall, it is the second Social Democratic Party delegation visiting Moscow in the past 18 months. I am happy to see such keen interest in the development of Russian-European relations. We also see them as a priority, which is only natural, because we are also close economic partners.

Russia is Europe's third largest export partner and fourth largest importer of European goods. Energy is such an important cooperation area that I do not even have to mention it here. It is also our political priority to be considerate of each other's interests, to study each other thoroughly and to help each other.

Cooperation between parliaments is crucial for having a shared understanding of underlying democratic principles, and upholding universal values such as peace and cooperation.

We are happy to see you here, welcome to Moscow.

Martin Schultz (in translation): Mr Prime Minister, first of all, let me thank you for agreeing to see us, which is certainly an honour. I am saying it on my own behalf and on behalf of my colleagues, the 218 members of our group in the European Parliament. I would like to confirm that we are highly interested in contacts with you.

Let me dwell briefly on a series of important current issues related to our visit to Russia.