Benita Ferrero-Waldner's comments follow Russia's announcement at the weekend that it had deployed Russian railroad troops to Abkhazia to help repair rail track in Georgia's breakaway region, a move that prompted Tbilisi to accuse Russia of preparing for military intervention.
The European commissioner told lawmakers in Russia's lower house that the EU was concerned that Russia's actions in Georgia could threaten stability on Russia's southern borders, an issue of particular importance with the upcoming 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi.
Ferrero-Waldner also said that the EU would continue to support the territorial integrity of Georgia, and would initiate steps to improve trust and promote dialogue between the sides.
She added that the upcoming meeting between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Sakaashvili, due to take place during the St. Petersburg economic forum on 6-8 June, could lead to a resumption of negotiations between Moscow and Tbilisi.
In April Russia's then president Vladimir Putin called for closer ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, another breakaway region in Georgia, provoking fury from Tbilisi, which accused Moscow of trying to annex the regions.
Relations have also been strained by Georgia's unmanned reconnaissance flights over Abkhazia and its plans to join NATO and integrate into other Western structures pursued by Georgia, which is located on strategic routes for Caspian oil and gas.
A UN report last Monday confirmed a Georgian drone was shot down by a Russian aircraft over Abkhazia on April 20. Moscow, which denies the allegation, dismissed the report as based on unreliable evidence.
