Members of the European Parliament's subcommittee on human rights said human rights should become an integral part of Russia-EU relations, the parliament's press service said.
Consultations on the issue were held in November, ahead of the EU-Russia bilateral summit on December 7.
The officials said it was particularly important that the new EU-Russia partnership agreement include a section on human rights.
"The Commission representative reassured MEPs that human rights would occupy a strategic position and be mentioned as a key principle and objective but also that it would be referred to in sensitive chapters such as fighting terrorism and granting asylum," the press release said.
The commission drew attention to that fact that eight human rights defenders were killed in Russia between 2005 and 2010, despite the country holding 11 rounds of consultations with the EU.
BRUSSELS, December 2 (RIA Novosti)
