Relations with Russia

Most scholars in Eastern Europe believe that the most effective way for the EU to exert a bigger influence on countries outside the bloc is through enlargement. And the EU's neighborhood policy through negotiations on the Association Agreement (AA) has played an important role in its process of eastward expansion.

In recent years, the EU has sped up negotiations on the AA and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) with Ukraine and other eastern neighbors. It has also promised economic integration for these countries in exchange for guiding their political transition process via an EU standard in order for them to fully integrate into EU governance.

To achieve that goal, the EU Commission has proposed the EU's Eastern Partnership to the European Parliament and the European Council. The initiative was officially launched in 2009. As part of the EU's regional policy, the initiative mainly aims to sign the AA and DCFTA with members of the Commonwealth of Independent States including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Owing to their geopolitical and economic links with the above countries, EU member states such as Czech Republic, Poland and Lithuania have served as their bridge to the EU. The three summits of the EU's Eastern Partnership were held in the three countries in 2009, 2011 and 2013, respectively.

However, on account of its unique history and special economic and political ties with Russia, Ukraine has been under pressure from Russia and shown a two-faced attitude toward the EU, which led to the delay of AA negotiations between the EU and Ukraine. The negotiations were in a stalemate for the entirety of 2012. On November 20, 2013, then Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych announced the postponement of signing the AA with the EU in a display of dissatisfaction. Soon after, Ukraine's pro-EU political forces organized massive protests against the Yanukovych government.

With the support of the EU, the protests quickly spread in Ukraine, resulting in the downfall of the Yanukovych government in February. The following developments in Ukraine, including the secession of the Crimean Peninsula and armed conflicts between government troops and independence-seeking militia in eastern regions, which are deeply tied to Russia, since March have brought the EU-Russian relationship to a low point.

The EU's eastward expansion via a variety of policy instruments has clashed with Russia's efforts to hold its traditional sphere of influence, forcing the two sides into a dilemma. In other words, due to their close economic and energy links, the current EU sanctions against Russia have hurt the economy of both sides. Thus, despite each side blaming the other, the two sides have not abandoned efforts to find a political solution.

Under the circumstances, the installment of the new EU leadership has managed to reach a balance.

Juncker, who represents countries including Germany and France that are more cautious toward Russia, will coordinate and guide the economic and political direction of the EU in the future as president of the European Commission.

On the other hand, Tusk, as former Prime Minister of Poland, is expected to take into full account the security concerns of EU member states in Eastern Europe when heading the European Council.

In the meantime, choosing Mogherini, a political figure who takes a similar stance to the United States and Britain in foreign affairs, as the EU's top diplomat, shows that the EU will give full consideration of coordination and cooperation with the United States and NATO in its foreign policies.

In short, the new EU leadership has taken all factors into consideration, demonstrating the unique features of EU governance.

The author is deputy director of the Department for European Studies under the China Institute of International Studies

Top EU Posts

The European Council, which consists of the heads of state or government of the EU member states, together with its president and president of the European Commission, defines the general political direction and priorities of the EU. Its current President Herman Van Rompuy's tenure will expire on November 30.

The European Commission represents the interests of the EU as a whole. It proposes new legislation to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, and it ensures that EU law is correctly applied by member countries. The current commission, headed by José Manuel Barroso, will end its five-year term on October 31.

The EU foreign affairs chief (High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy), with a term of five years, is responsible for coordinating the bloc's common foreign and security policy and contributes to the development of that policy. Catherine Ashton, who currently holds the post, will step down on October 31 as her tenure expires.

(Sources: www.europa.eu, www.xinhuanet.com)

Email us at: yanwei@bjreview.com