In May 2004, seven formerly Soviet satellite countries joined the European Union (EU). In 2007, the enlargement process of the EU proceeded with another two former Soviet satellites, Romania and Bulgaria becoming new members. Furthermore, the Ukrainian government, whose country shares a common border of almost 1600 km with Russia, has commited itself to enhance political and economic reform processes. Its strategic long-term goal is the accession to the EU. Although it is rather unlikely that accession talks with the Ukraine will start in the near future, the course adopted by the government is obvious. Georgia, a former Soviet republic as well, formulated back in 2003 its strategic long-term objective which is becoming a member of the EU.
The Eastern Enlargement in 2004 brought the EU at the doorstep to the Russian Federation. Although having shared a common border with Russia since 1995 when Finland became a member of the EU, the situation now is qualitatively different. Russia’s former direct sphere of influence is now integrated within the framework of the EU.
Due to this relatively new situation of immediate neighbourhood without any ideologic cutting line or cordon sanitaire1, it is likely that new patterns concerning the Russia-EU relationship arise. Particularly, the Russian perspective on the EU might change qualitatively, with the latter expanding to territories that were just fifteen years ago under direct control of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics (USSR).
This paper argues that Russia faces a dilemma concerning its relations with the EU. On the one hand, the EU constitutes a competitor for post-Soviet space. On the other hand, Russia needs the EU as a partner, particularly in the economic field. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to examine Russia’s perception towards the EU’s enlargement policy. In the first part, base lines of Russian foreign policy since 1990 will be identified by applying theoretical approaches of international relations to these developments. The role the EU played in Russia’s foreign policy perception will be emdedded into the broader scope of Russia’s general approach to international affairs. Russia’s specific perception attributed to EU’s Eastern enlargement policy will be the focus of the third part of the paper. Identifying patterns of Russian responses to the dynamics of EU’s Eastern Enlargement and the implications of these responses for Russia-EU relations will also be discussed.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Russian Federation: Defining its Role in International Politics
a. Liberal Internationalism: The Beginnings of Post-Soviet Foreign Policy
b. Multipolarity as the Objective: Re-orientation under Primakov
c. Russian Foreign Policy under Putin
3. Russia’s Perception of EU’s Enlargement Policy
a. The Russian Perspective on EU Eastern Enlargement
i) The System of Reference: NATO Enlargement
ii) EU Eastern Enlargement: The Economic Perspective
iii) EU Eastern Enlargement: The Political Perspective
iv) EU Eastern Enlargement: The Geopolitical Perspective
b. The Russian Perspective on the Dynamics of EU Enlargement
4. The Impact of Russia’s new Perception on Russia-EU Relations
5. Conclusions
Research Objective and Key Themes
This paper examines how the Russian Federation perceives the European Union's enlargement policy and assesses the resulting implications for the bilateral relationship between Russia and the EU, specifically addressing the dilemma Russia faces in balancing its need for an economic partner against its aspirations to maintain a sphere of influence in the post-Soviet space.
- The evolution of Russian foreign policy since the dissolution of the USSR.
- Different dimensions of the Russian perception of EU enlargement (economic, political, and geopolitical).
- The impact of EU enlargement on the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region.
- Russia's use of energy as a foreign policy tool and its drive for domestic consolidation.
- The shifting perceptions of the EU from a purely economic partner to a geopolitical competitor.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Russia’s Perception of EU’s Enlargement Policy
This part of the essay has the goal to analyse Russia’s perspective on the EU’s Eastern enlargement policies. In order to provide a holistic picture, not only the already accomplished 2004 Eastern enlargement will be considered but also current trends in countries of the CIS will be taken into account. The analysis will therefore lead from Russian perceptions of EU Eastern enlargement to Russia’s attitude towards the general dynamics of the EU’s enlargement policy. Further, the analysis will be embedded into the above outlined general objectives of Russian foreign policy, namely re-establishing Russia as an infuential global actor and avoiding serious discordances with and isolation from major Western states.
The following part will focus on the question whether EU enlargement policy is seen as constituting problems, or even threats, to national Russian interests or as providing opportunities for Russia, e.g. to enhance domestic economic consolidation. The answer to this question is closely linked to the distinct nature of enlargement as perceived by the Russian political elite. Therefore, different dimensions of EU enlargement as perceived by Russia will be examined. A great part of Russia’s responses to EU enlargement, which will be analysed in the next part, will depend on how the dynamics of enlargement are perceived by Russia. Are they perceived of having a rather geopolitical, economic or political nature? The following analysis will be constructed around these three dimensions.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the changing landscape of European borders post-2004 and defines the central dilemma of Russia's relationship with the EU regarding its role as both a competitor and an essential economic partner.
2. The Russian Federation: Defining its Role in International Politics: This chapter categorizes Russian foreign policy into three distinct historical phases since the collapse of the USSR, illustrating the transition from liberal internationalism to realism and moderate realism under Putin.
3. Russia’s Perception of EU’s Enlargement Policy: This section breaks down how Russia evaluates EU enlargement across economic, political, and geopolitical dimensions, contrasting it specifically with the more threatening perceptions of NATO enlargement.
4. The Impact of Russia’s new Perception on Russia-EU Relations: This chapter analyzes how Russia's realization of the EU's growing influence in the CIS region is shifting the bilateral relationship toward a more geopolitical struggle, heavily influenced by energy dominance.
5. Conclusions: The concluding chapter summarizes that while Russia acknowledges the economic benefits of partnership with the EU, it continues to view the EU as a geopolitical competitor for its former sphere of influence in the post-Soviet space.
Keywords
Russian Federation, European Union, Eastern Enlargement, Foreign Policy, CIS, Geopolitics, Realism, Energy Policy, Economic Integration, Multipolarity, NATO, Sovereignty, Post-Soviet Space, International Relations, Strategic Partnership
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on the evolution of Russia's perception toward the European Union's enlargement policies from the early 1990s through 2005.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the impact of EU enlargement on the CIS region, the transition of Russian foreign policy paradigms, the instrumental use of energy in foreign relations, and the dilemma of Russia's integration into the global economy while maintaining regional power.
What is the core research objective?
The objective is to examine how Russia perceives EU enlargement as either an opportunity for economic consolidation or a threat to its geopolitical interests, particularly in the post-Soviet space.
Which theoretical framework does the author apply?
The author uses concepts from International Relations theory, specifically Liberal Internationalism, Realism, and Structural Realism, to characterize Russia's changing behaviors and political rhetoric.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the historical shifts in Russia's role in international politics, specific Russian perspectives on EU enlargement (economic, political, and geopolitical), and the subsequent impact on the Russia-EU partnership.
What are the characterizing keywords of the study?
Essential keywords include Russian Federation, European Union, Eastern Enlargement, Geopolitics, Realism, CIS, and Energy Policy.
How does Russia view the enlargement process compared to NATO?
Russia perceives EU enlargement primarily through an economic and technical lens, whereas it views NATO enlargement as a significant security and geopolitical provocation.
What is the significance of the "Four Common Spaces" mentioned in the text?
The "Four Common Spaces" represent an attempt to move beyond the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) toward a more systematically organized and deeper form of cooperation between Russia and the EU following the St. Petersburg Summit in 2003.
Why does the author consider Russia-EU relations a "marriage-of-convenience"?
The author argues that while Russia needs the EU for economic modernization and internal stability, it views the relationship with skepticism and intends to pursue an autonomous path once it feels powerful enough to do so.
- Quote paper
- Michael Hofmann (Author), 2005, Russia and its Changing Perceptions of the EU, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/61787
