Commentary
French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled his country’s new nuclear doctrine. Are the changes he has made enough to reassure France’s European partners in the current geopolitical context?
Rym Momtaz, ed.
{
"authors": [],
"type": "pressRelease",
"centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
],
"collections": [],
"englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
"nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
"primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"programAffiliation": "russia",
"programs": [
"Russia and Eurasia"
],
"projects": [],
"regions": [
"Caucasus",
"Russia",
"Eastern Europe",
"Western Europe"
],
"topics": [
"Political Reform",
"Security",
"Foreign Policy"
]
}
REQUIRED IMAGE
Press Release
Press Release: Russia and the E.U.: What Makes a "Strategic Partnership?"
The Carnegie Endowment announces a Carnegie Paper by visiting scholar Rolf Schuette that argues that relations between the E.U. and Russia cannot develop into a full-fledged "strategic partnership," if they are based only on common interests and not also on common values and mutual trust.
Published on Dec 21, 2004
Contact: Carmen MacDougall, 202-939-2319, cmacdougall@CarnegieEndowment.org
For Immediate Release: December 21, 2004
This fall European criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s policies reached a new high, as critics saw the political measures he announced after the Beslan terrorist attack as exploiting the events to further curtail democracy. Doubts about Russia’s commitment to “common European values,” one of the bedrocks of the partnership between the two actors, are gaining momentum. Visiting scholar Rolf Schuette argues that relations between the E.U. and Russia cannot develop into a full-fledged “strategic partnership,” if they are based only on common interests and not also on common values and mutual trust. Read E.U. - Russia Relations: Interests and Values – A European Perspective here.
The Carnegie Paper reviews E.U.-Russia relations from a European perspective, examining how the common values of democracy, human rights, and rule of law have figured in the relationship. The first section analyzes the formulation of E.U. policy towards Russia and then outlines the structure and four main areas of E.U.-Russian cooperation. Schuette points out that the E.U. and Russia have a unique relationship based on years of intensive dialogue and geographical proximity. Natural partners, they complement each other most clearly in the areas of trade, investment and energy. Though recent developments seem discouraging, the E.U. should not give up its efforts to counter troublesome trends that contradict the common values to which Russia previously committed.
Specifically, Schuette suggests that the E.U. send a clear, consistent message in its dialogue with Russia, saying that:
- Dialogue and cooperation will continue. There will be no return to Cold War antagonism.
- Both sides can discuss any concern brought to the table. No matter can be vetoed.
- Russia can expect support in its fight against terrorism, but not a “discount” when it disregards human rights in Chechnya or uses terrorism as a pretext for curbing democracy.
- The E.U. will continue to raise concerns about Russia’s violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in appropriate international forums.
- Respect for Russia comes only when it complies with the common European values.
Rolf Schuette was a visiting scholar in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment during the fall of 2004. He is a career diplomat in the German Foreign Service and was also the head of the Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova division in the Foreign Office in Berlin. The paper expresses his personal opinion and not official position.
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Carnegie Europe
- Taking the Pulse: Is France’s New Nuclear Doctrine Ambitious Enough?
- The Iran War’s Dangerous Fallout for EuropeCommentary
The drone strike on the British air base in Akrotiri brings Europe’s proximity to the conflict in Iran into sharp relief. In the fog of war, old tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean risk being reignited, and regional stakeholders must avoid escalation.
Marc Pierini
- The EU Needs a Third Way in IranCommentary
European reactions to the war in Iran have lost sight of wider political dynamics. The EU must position itself for the next phase of the crisis without giving up on its principles.
Richard Youngs
- Resetting Cyber Relations with the United StatesArticle
For years, the United States anchored global cyber diplomacy. As Washington rethinks its leadership role, the launch of the UN’s Cyber Global Mechanism may test how allies adjust their engagement.
Patryk Pawlak, Chris Painter
- Global Instability Makes Europe More Attractive, Not LessCommentary
Europe isn’t as weak in the new geopolitics of power as many would believe. But to leverage its assets and claim a sphere of influence, Brussels must stop undercutting itself.
Dimitar Bechev
