Moscow - The first round of negotiations between the European Union and Russia on a partnership agreement is scheduled to begin on July 4 in Brussels, according to the European Commission's envoy in an interview Tuesday with Echo Moskvy radio.

"It will probably be easier to say after the EU-Russia summit in Khanty-Mansiysk and after the first round of negotiations, which is to be held in Brussels on July 4, how long the talks will last altogether," Marco Franco said.

The summit in the Siberian city from June 26 to 28 will kickstart the negotiations. The 27 EU members had agreed to hold new talks on a founding agreement in May after a two-year dispute.

The Europeans are keen on gaining more secure oil and gas supplies from Russia which presently supplies 44 per cent of the EU's natural gas and 27 per cent of its petroleum needs. (dpa)