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.