EU losing battle for eastern neighbors to Russia: think-tank
The European Union is losing influence over its
eastern neighbors to Russia, a European think-tank has
concluded.
The European Council on Foreign Relations said in a report that if the EU wants to prevent completely giving up its influence over the South Caucasus states, as well as Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus, it should put an end to "laziness" and pursue a more intense policy. The bloc is mistaken in its expectation that these countries will naturally turn towards the EU.
Andrew Wilson, one of the report`s authors, told the BBC that recent public opinion polls conducted in the countries included in the Eastern Partnership program, which aims to create closer cooperation with six former Soviet republics, indicate a stronger tendency toward Russia in comparison with the previous years. This is the case even in western-leaning Ukraine, which has always predominantly favored the EU. Moreover, the EU`s migration legislation is such that citizens of other former Soviet republics can more easily travel to Russia, rather than EU countries.
Asked "in your opinion, a Russian-leaning tendency is due to the fear factor, or people just see Russia as a closer country?" Wilson said a number of factors were involved, including cultural proximity, language and geography. After countries like Poland and Czech Republic acceded to the Schengen agreement, which regulates immigration to most European states, the number of people traveling there from the East plummeted. Thus, the obstacles posed by EU states have also influenced people`s slant toward Russia.
The Eastern Partnership initiative, floated by Poland and Sweden, covers Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. It envisions simplified visa regulations, free trade and closer energy cooperation, though membership in the bloc is not on the agenda at this point. The participating countries are required to bring their laws into compliance with EU standards, pursue economic reforms and bolster democratic development.
One of the EU`s political recommendations is softening visa regulations, however, the bloc cautions that, in that case, hundreds of thousands of people would immigrate to its member states permanently, as life in many of the six countries participating in Eastern Partnership is very challenging.
Asked what specific actions the EU needs to take in its approach toward Azerbaijan, Wilson replied that, unlike other countries, Azerbaijan is not very interested in the visa issue since the country`s relations with the 27-member bloc are focused on energy. EU`s assistance in this respect seeks to provide Azerbaijan with a diversity of exports.
The European Council on Foreign Relations is the first pan-European think-tank. Launched in October 2007, its objective is to conduct research and promote informed debate across Europe on the development of coherent and effective European values-based foreign policy.
Russian reports circulated last week that the EU is putting the Eastern Partnership program on hold. Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Prime Minister of Sweden and the current EU chair, reportedly said the bloc is having to take this step due to new, crisis-related challenges it is facing.
However, Azerbaijani political analyst Zardusht Alizada says the EU`s putting Eastern Partnership on hold, if confirmed, would be a political move. According to Alizada, the postponement of the Eastern Partnership program is not due to the financial crisis but is, rather, caused by political reasons.
Alizada believes the funds to be allocated to Eastern states as part of the program are a tiny sum for the EU, therefore the financial reasoning for the suspension has little merit.
According to the pundit, if, indeed, the bloc has decided to postpone the launch of Eastern Partnership, this means that the EU is backing down in the face of Russia`s policy.
Alizada pointed out that the EU has always taken seriously Eastern countries, in particular the implementation of Eastern Partnership. "Simply, the political situation has changed, and the states that co-signed and stated their intent to join the program are not willing, in any way, to accept European values. Moreover, this program is ratcheting up tensions between the EU and Russia. It is possible that, currently, it will be frozen. They will return to this program after a certain political clarification."
EU officials have not confirmed the reports on Eastern Partnership`s suspension.
The European Council on Foreign Relations said in a report that if the EU wants to prevent completely giving up its influence over the South Caucasus states, as well as Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus, it should put an end to "laziness" and pursue a more intense policy. The bloc is mistaken in its expectation that these countries will naturally turn towards the EU.
Andrew Wilson, one of the report`s authors, told the BBC that recent public opinion polls conducted in the countries included in the Eastern Partnership program, which aims to create closer cooperation with six former Soviet republics, indicate a stronger tendency toward Russia in comparison with the previous years. This is the case even in western-leaning Ukraine, which has always predominantly favored the EU. Moreover, the EU`s migration legislation is such that citizens of other former Soviet republics can more easily travel to Russia, rather than EU countries.
Asked "in your opinion, a Russian-leaning tendency is due to the fear factor, or people just see Russia as a closer country?" Wilson said a number of factors were involved, including cultural proximity, language and geography. After countries like Poland and Czech Republic acceded to the Schengen agreement, which regulates immigration to most European states, the number of people traveling there from the East plummeted. Thus, the obstacles posed by EU states have also influenced people`s slant toward Russia.
The Eastern Partnership initiative, floated by Poland and Sweden, covers Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. It envisions simplified visa regulations, free trade and closer energy cooperation, though membership in the bloc is not on the agenda at this point. The participating countries are required to bring their laws into compliance with EU standards, pursue economic reforms and bolster democratic development.
One of the EU`s political recommendations is softening visa regulations, however, the bloc cautions that, in that case, hundreds of thousands of people would immigrate to its member states permanently, as life in many of the six countries participating in Eastern Partnership is very challenging.
Asked what specific actions the EU needs to take in its approach toward Azerbaijan, Wilson replied that, unlike other countries, Azerbaijan is not very interested in the visa issue since the country`s relations with the 27-member bloc are focused on energy. EU`s assistance in this respect seeks to provide Azerbaijan with a diversity of exports.
The European Council on Foreign Relations is the first pan-European think-tank. Launched in October 2007, its objective is to conduct research and promote informed debate across Europe on the development of coherent and effective European values-based foreign policy.
Russian reports circulated last week that the EU is putting the Eastern Partnership program on hold. Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Prime Minister of Sweden and the current EU chair, reportedly said the bloc is having to take this step due to new, crisis-related challenges it is facing.
However, Azerbaijani political analyst Zardusht Alizada says the EU`s putting Eastern Partnership on hold, if confirmed, would be a political move. According to Alizada, the postponement of the Eastern Partnership program is not due to the financial crisis but is, rather, caused by political reasons.
Alizada believes the funds to be allocated to Eastern states as part of the program are a tiny sum for the EU, therefore the financial reasoning for the suspension has little merit.
According to the pundit, if, indeed, the bloc has decided to postpone the launch of Eastern Partnership, this means that the EU is backing down in the face of Russia`s policy.
Alizada pointed out that the EU has always taken seriously Eastern countries, in particular the implementation of Eastern Partnership. "Simply, the political situation has changed, and the states that co-signed and stated their intent to join the program are not willing, in any way, to accept European values. Moreover, this program is ratcheting up tensions between the EU and Russia. It is possible that, currently, it will be frozen. They will return to this program after a certain political clarification."
EU officials have not confirmed the reports on Eastern Partnership`s suspension.
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