The Association of Studies, Research and Internationalization in Eurasia and Africa published in partnership with CeSEM – Centro Studi Eurasia Mediterraneo the fourth volume of Geopolitical Report titled “Russia-EU Confrontation/Collaboration and Future Challenges” which aims at analyzing the recent events which have characterised the relations between Moscow and Brussels and evaluating possible future developments and challenges.
Russia and the European Union, friends or enemies, partners or competitors. This is the eternal dilemma that has concerned/affected the relations between Brussels and Moscow since the collapse of the Soviet Union. After the Ukrainian Crisis, the situation became worse and nowadays the distance between the two parts seems unbridgeable although the road of contrast finds its root earlier and involves the energy market and the EU Eastern Partnership.
In his paper Stefano Vernole aimed at understanding whether the European Union and Russian can ever be political and economic partners. The recent confrontation between Brussels and Moscow due to the Ukrainian Crisis might create favourable conditions for the United States and China which have interests in dividing Europe and Russia and improve their presence on the European and Russian markets and domestic policies.
Antimo Altomare focused the attention on the Ukrainian crisis and the European sanctions against the Russian Federation. According to the author, Brussels and Moscow need to dialogue and change this situation of distrust and conflict because the two parts are economically and politically connected. Furthermore, even though the European sanctions are a clear answer of political identity, their effect is hardly visible.
Alessandro C. Mauceri highlighted the fact that the European Union and the Russian Federation might be the world’s largest economic and political centre together if they can overcome the current crisis. The author emphasized the significant role played by the energy market in Brussels – Moscow relations: indeed, Russia and the European Union are interdependent in energy import-export and transport.
Mattia Baldoni and Marco Limburgo confronted the Russian and European strategy over de facto states such as Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria, Nagorno-Karabakh, Kosovo, Lugansk and Donetsk republics. On the one hand, EU statements about territorial integrity and people freedom strive for further, but on long-term, enlargement process, through neighbourhood policies and cooperation. On the other hand, Russia tries to defend leavings of post-Soviet ties, mixing hard and soft power, threatening the stability of already weak European borders, thanks to the management of most of these little cores of instability.
Regarding de facto states, Emanuel Pietrobon investigated Moldova case and the geopolitical battle for hegemony over the country. In his research, the author analysed the cases of Transnistria and Gagauzia which directly involve the Russian Federation and Turkey and transform Moldova in a geopolitical battlefront where the West (Brussels and Washington) is confronting Moscow and Ankara.
Laura Moreno Rincón studied the European – Russia relations in the framework of strategic communication trying to understand if the Kremlin is really supporting Right Nationalists in Europe. Also, the author tried to point out which are possible Russian proposes and advantages in politics, economy and technology belonging to the Kremlin’s support of Right Nationalists.
It is possible to read and download the fourth volume of Geopolitical Report at the following link: “Russia-EU Confrontation/Collaboration and Future Challenges“
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