Russian and EU Views of the Eastern Partnership
06.11.2013, 00:00
06.11.2013, 00:00
06.11.2013, 00:00
At the upcoming Third Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius,
Association Agreements with the EU may be signed with Ukraine and
initialled with Moldova and Georgia. Such a scenario would create a
completely novel situation for Russia, raising its concerns and
impacting the future of Russia–EU relations. This is particularly so as
Russia is developing its own integration project of the post-Soviet
states called the Eurasian Union in which it would engage the
countries of the EaP, too.
At the upcoming Third Eastern Partnership (EaP) Summit in Vilnius, Association Agreements with the EU may be signed with Ukraine and initialled with Moldova and Georgia. Such a scenario would create a completely novel situation for Russia, raising its concerns and impacting the future of Russia–EU relations. This is particularly so as Russia is developing its own integration project of the post-Soviet states called the Eurasian Union (EAU) in which it would engage the countries of the EaP, too. These issues were discussed by Russian and Polish experts at the conference in Moscow “Russia, the EU and Eastern Europe: Vilnius and Beyond”.
The participants offered varying estimates of the possible outcomes of the Vilnius Summit, yet they agreed that signing or initialling the Association Agreements would not be groundbreaking in and of itself, rather it would be of symbolic value. Of key importance instead is the ratification and implementation of the agreements.
Most of the speakers—both Poles and Russians—pointed out that association with the EU is advantageous for Ukraine and Moldova in terms of modernization and in establishing a free trade zone (via Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements) and will significantly change the countries’ economies. However, it was also underlined that Ukraine’s approximation with the EU will be viewed well in Mink as it would result in the consolidation of the position of Belarus in the Customs Union.
At the same time, the Russian authorities look with suspicion at Ukraine’s and Moldova’s European aspirations, because President Vladimir Putin envisages a “binary Europe” with the EU and the EAU at its two poles. In a negative scenario, as one of the experts pointed to, the EU-EAU contacts would become reminiscent of two parallel one-way streets. Of course, cooperation could turn out to be good and mutually beneficial.
The conference co-organized by PISM and the Carnegie Moscow Center took place on 6 November in Moscow and constituted the first instance of a long-term partnership between the two think tanks. The partners intend to further develop their cooperation and organize similar events.
Conference agenda
Photo by Anita Sobjak, Anna Maria Dyner
The participants offered varying estimates of the possible outcomes of the Vilnius Summit, yet they agreed that signing or initialling the Association Agreements would not be groundbreaking in and of itself, rather it would be of symbolic value. Of key importance instead is the ratification and implementation of the agreements.
Most of the speakers—both Poles and Russians—pointed out that association with the EU is advantageous for Ukraine and Moldova in terms of modernization and in establishing a free trade zone (via Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements) and will significantly change the countries’ economies. However, it was also underlined that Ukraine’s approximation with the EU will be viewed well in Mink as it would result in the consolidation of the position of Belarus in the Customs Union.
At the same time, the Russian authorities look with suspicion at Ukraine’s and Moldova’s European aspirations, because President Vladimir Putin envisages a “binary Europe” with the EU and the EAU at its two poles. In a negative scenario, as one of the experts pointed to, the EU-EAU contacts would become reminiscent of two parallel one-way streets. Of course, cooperation could turn out to be good and mutually beneficial.
The conference co-organized by PISM and the Carnegie Moscow Center took place on 6 November in Moscow and constituted the first instance of a long-term partnership between the two think tanks. The partners intend to further develop their cooperation and organize similar events.
Conference agenda
Photo by Anita Sobjak, Anna Maria Dyner