Russian researcher asks Finland to provide "road map" for ties between Russia and EU

Experts discuss East-West relations at seminar in Finnish Parliament

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A leading Russian expert on European relations has urged Finland and other European Union member states scheduled to hold the EU Presidency in the coming years to develop a "road map" for improving relations between Russia and the EU.
      Dr. Dmitri Danilov, head of the European Security Section of Moscow's Europe Institute, said at a seminar in the Finnish Parliament on Wednesday that the countries should promote a detailed and long-term plan on what the common goals of Europe and Russia are, and how to reach those goals.
     
Danilov warned that without such a plan, relations between Russia and the EU could deteriorate further. He said that tensions in areas near Russia could escalate, and Russia might focus more on relations with large EU member states, while ignoring others.
      "There are many problems between Russia and the EU. For that reason, each future EU Presidency-holder has special responsibility to make sure that practical solutions to those problems are found", Danilov said at the seminar arranged by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Aleksanteri Institute.
      Finland will hold the EU Presidency in the second half of 2006.
     
Relations between the EU and Russia have been strained by a number of recent events, including the Presidential elections in Ukraine, the situation in Chechnya, the concentration of power into the hands of President Vladimir Putin, and disputes over travel visas.
      Professor Yuri Fyodorov of the Institute of Political Research at the University of Moscow said that one reason for the strains in relations is the internal division of the Russian elite into "post-Soviet traditionalists" and pro-Western reformers.
      Fyodorov said that Russian foreign policy is often confusing because is influenced by both groups.
      Meanwhile, Dr. Iris Kempe of the Munich Centre of Applied Political Research attributed the conflicts to a "value gap" between Russia and the EU. By this she meant that Russia has not committed itself to open democracy.
     
In Kempe's view, the problem is that the EU lacks a common Russia policy, which is why it is difficult for Russia to see the splintered Union as a single decision-maker.
      Therefore, Putin focuses on dealing with relations with the large EU countries.
      Former Chancellor Helmut Kohl was in the habit of having a sauna together with former President Boris Yeltsin. Now Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and President Putin spend Christmas together.
      "Sauna diplomacy has turned to Christmas tree diplomacy", Kempe criticised.
      The researchers did not see hope for much progress in relations before the value gap is narrowed, or before the EU establishes a unified policy toward the former Soviet republics. Therefore, expectations were not very high for the upcoming May summit between the EU and Russia.
      "The EU also needs to be patient with respect to Russia. This does not mean that Russia should not be criticised. However, you should remember that the Soviet way of thinking does not disappear from the minds of the people very quickly", Professor Fyodorov said.


Links:
  Aleksanteri Institute

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