Russia and the European Union: What Remains of the Partnership? (original) (raw)
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EU-Russia relations revisited: where 'shared values' end, and energy begins
essex.ac.uk
The European Union is finally assessing the consequences of its long-term efforts in relations with its proximity neighbourhood: the intersection of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP), the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the new enlargements have plotted a complex map of interactions with the southern and eastern borders, which is entitled to the spread of the European governance and acquis, together with the promotion of democracy and human rights. Russia is curiously 'external' to conventional instruments of cooperation, and has then adopted several peculiar features for what we can call a 'privileged partnership'. These tools (Common Spaces, a Common Strategy on security issues, Road Maps, Energy Dialogue) are founded upon an acknowledged economic interdependence, since Russian crude oil and natural gas are the main energy import for the EU, while European products are the main commercial import for Russia. The new domestic dynamics of power and authority under Putin's Russia, though, have crystallized a dimension of reiterated negation of human rights and basic civil and political freedoms: nonetheless, European governments continue to choose energy overdependence from Russia, neglecting the inward collapse of Russian society, and ignoring all requests from EU institutions to change the terms of the relations towards a more ethic fashion. This paper tries to analyse the consequences of such an interdependence on the credibility of the external relations of the EU; the weird relation between the political will of Russia, the member states and Brussels's institutions; the possibility for a turn, in the domestic dimension of 'political space' in Russia, thanks to the efforts of a democratising and ethic economic partner such as the EU.
The study of the four Foreign Policy Concepts of the Russian Federation and their changes in terms of tone and substance enable us to understand the country’s evolving understanding of international affairs and its perception of its own role in this environment. It also helps with the observation of the internal political dynamic in Russia, announcing a shift towards Eurasianism as well as allowing us to put Russian attitudes to Western behaviour through years. The analysis of EU-Russia relations within this wider perspective highlights the mutual misunderstanding and lack of empathy between both entities that prevented them from avoiding some significant faux pas that led them to the current situation. From vacillations and hesitancy to a dialogue of the deaf clouded by distrust, we will be aim to specifically analyse Moscow’s reaction to EU involvement in Russia’s “sphere of influence”.
European Union and Russia: international relations evolution
Geopolitical, Social Security and Freedom Journal, 2020
Today the relationship between Russia and the today EU-28 (today EU-27) members of the European Union is essential and very strategically important; this issue is bound to become more urgent as the two draws closer together over the next decades. In this paper, we discuss this and the Russian Federation’s role in the Ukraine conflict that has seriously affected EU-Russia relations. The EU and Russia have a long record of cooperation on issues of bilateral and international concern in several fields, from climate change to drug and human trafficking, but also the organized crime, terrorism, and non-proliferation. In particular, Europe, the “old traditional Europe”, acquires special weight for Russia in the context of the cooling down of relations between Russia and the United States. We will discuss gas, oil, and energy, but we can see that the solution can be only economic, and the oil and agriculture sectors could help do just that. “Business is business”.
The-EU-Russia Relations: in search of a dialogue
2016
In a similar way, Alexei Gromyko's chapter explores Russia's foreign policy strategy towards the post-Soviet states. He contends that both Europe and Russia Executive summary Cristian Nitoiu r elations between the European union (Eu) and russia have been traditionally characterised by the dichotomy between conlict and cooperation. this has inluenced the abstract nature of the Eu-russia strategic partnership. the ukraine crisis has had a deep impact on the Eu's foreign policy and its approach towards russia. It highlighted that the Eu's eastern neighbourhood is characterised by intense geopolitical competition with russia. the crisis also underscored the weakness of the Eu's 'low politics' approach in its relations with russia and post-Soviet space. on the other hand, russia's actions in ukraine have made Eu member states more willing to act together and take a harder line against moscow. thus, Eu-russia relations have entered a period of stalemate.
The European Union - Russia Relations: Understanding the Past to Build the Future
The present study intends to conduct a historical retrospective analysis of the relations between Russia and the EU, all the way since the Cold War until the current era. Recently, the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine, the Crimean crisis and the Russian interference in some Eastern European countries, have led to rising tensions amongst the relations concerning Russia and the UN. Other than a political crisis, such tumultuous interactions reflect a geopolitical confrontation between the two entities, which is deeply rooted in History itself. Comprehending the political and economic evolution of both parties is nuclear towards understanding the attitudes and motives that drive the behavior of each side and to also demystify common misconceptions related to the public perception of how these relations have been carried out. Overcoming future challenges is entirely dependent, on whether or not ascertaining the intents and capacities of both entities is a feasible reality, especially the perception that each one has of its own position within the international system.
The uncertainties in the new international order, marked by growing interdependence as a result of the processes of globalization, along with fragmentation tendencies in the form of secession and protectionism, together with the numerous threats to international security, contribute to the complexity of the international scenario, raising questions about cooperation and competition, the balancing of norms and interests, and the juxtaposition and coordination of objectives and resources. In this context, the clarification of the relationship between the European Union and its largest neighbor, the Russian Federation, through the identification of competing interests and cooperation opportunities, along with the analysis of the agendas of these distinct actors, are relevant for the understanding of the EU's eastern neighborhood policy in relation to Putin's Russia in a political-security perspective. Realizing they need one another, this relationship has, nevertheless, been marked by many ups and downs. To what extent might cooperation prevail in the midst of competing interests? How far might Putin's growing undemocratic practices affect Moscow's relations with the EU? What impact might the affirmation of a stronger EU security and defense capability have on the EU-Russia link? By seeking to find answers to these and other questions, this paper aims to analyze the complex context in which the EU-Russia relationship takes place, looking for possible ways ahead in the building of cooperation and in the finding of a balance necessary for constructing stability throughout Europe. Looking East: The EU and Russia 2 How has Russia been responding to the new security challenges? Adapting to the changing conditions in a post-cold war context, or changing its security perceptions in response to the European integration process/enlargement policy? And how far might Putin's growing undemocratic practices affect Moscow's relation with the EU? What impact might the affirmation of a stronger EU security and defense capability have on the EU-Russia link? A complex relationship based on distinct principles leaves ample room for cooperation and competition and for an acknowledgment of the benefits of a working strategic partnership, while precluding both the EU and Russia from assuming it as a declared goal, with persisting distrust and animosity. Partners and rivals in the same play: a complex argument where the actors' performance includes both collaborative initiatives and exchange of accusations, seeming like an almost unmanageable "love-hate" relationship.
The Relationship between the EU and Russia: symbiosis or competition?
CES Working Papers, Vol. VI, issue 2, supplement A, 2014
Cooperation and trust between Russia and the European Union (EU), two of the most important international actors, have reached the lowest level since the Cold War. The main bone of contention has been the future of countries situated in Eastern Europe, in the so-called 'in-between'/'buffer' region. On the one hand, the EU aims at strengthening links with the six Eastern European partners -Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraineby encouraging reforms and by luring them to embrace European core values. However, Russia's counteractions have mitigated the EU's plans towards its vicinity -as the case of Ukraine best points out. Apart from the geopolitical competition over the 'shared'
Revista Electrónica de Estudios Internacionales, 2022
Relations between the EU and Russia are usually analyzed from a political or economic point of view. There is however not enough thinking on the legal impact of political measures or political consequences of a legal response to complex political socio-economic concerns. This approach will allow partially explain the current disagreements. This research critically analyzes the most ideological positions from both sides and answers to the strategic need for a normalization of this bilateral relationship and its management after the war, as we need a European path to recover security and growth. This contribution concentrates on three main aspects of the EU-Russia relationship: the legal obligations in the field of international trade, the security competition, and the legal consequences of the energy market regulation. In all three, I make proposals for fixing these points of contention. These proposals are not idealistic but based on facts that show the need for a correct relationship with a neighboring State. Thereby, the article contributes to the analysis of the bilateral relationship, not only political and economic but also legal. The article ends with several suggestions for a future new Strategy in the years to come, after reaching a consensus among the EU Member States. Nonetheless, it will provide elements to debate for both, the Commission’s Political Priorities and for the European Council Strategic Agenda setting up.
EU-Russia relations in the context of the eastern neighbourhood
2015
This paper briefly examines EU-Russia relations in the context of the eastern neighbourhood. Both the EU and Russia’s ambitions for the eastern region have evolved into two competing region-building projects underpinned by differing strategies, norms, instruments, and actors. Although projecting competing rationalities, the two projects, until recently, had peacefully co-existed, working around conflicting issues of political norms and economic convergence, which were not necessarily seen as insurmountable for furthering regional cooperation. Their subsequent politicisation and securitisation, as a consequence of events in Ukraine, have rendered regional partnership currently incompatible, revealing a profound lack of understanding the region by both the EU and Russia; and the EU under-exploited capacity to work co-jointly with the Eurasian Union (and Russia) vis-a-vis the region. The author of this paper, Elena Korosteleva, contends that the EU must make an effort to acknowledge and engage with the above actors over the region, in order to develop cooperative strategies, based on shared interests, international norms and compatible instruments for the advancement of economic and political convergence across the region.
Challenges and dilemmas within the relations between Russia and the European Union
CES Working Paper, Vol. III 4, 2012
Every EU enlargement signified a step towards Central and Eastern Europe, therefore, the 2004 „big bang enlargement”, followed by the one in 2007, modified the geopolitical context within the „old continent” and also increased the importance of the European Union regionally, as well as globally. Integrating the ex-soviet countries into the EU meant taking them out of the Russian sphere of influence, as well as attempting to super size the EU territory in order to increase the European power on a long term. Despite the weakening of Russia after the Cold War, the federation still represents a challenge regarding „pax europea”, as Russia still has an amazing military capacity, as well as important natural resources. The entrance into the Russian sphere of influence, the European energetic dependency on Russia, the conflicts within the separatist regions situated at the EU eastern borders are just few of the many challenges regarding the relations between the European Union and Russia.