Master 2020/2021

EU-Russia Relations

Category 'Best Course for Career Development'

Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'

Category 'Best Course for New Knowledge and Skills'

Type: Elective course (International Relations: European and Asian Studies)

Area of studies: International Relations

Delivered by: School of International Affairs

Where: Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

When: 2 year, 1, 2 module

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Kirill Entin, Dmitry Suslov

Master’s programme: International Relations: European and Asian studies

Language: English

ECTS credits: 4

Contact hours: 56

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course “Russia-EU Relations” offers students an in-depth and comprehensive study of the Russia’ relations with its major trade partner and important foreign policy counterpart. It explores legal basis and history of the relations since early 1990-s, analyzes their legal, political, economic and analytical framework, and offers a detailed analyses of their major areas (security, energy, relations at the Post-Soviet space). Particular attention is given to the analyses of the current crisis of Russia-EU relations, caused by the Ukraine conflict, its reasons and evolution, as well as scenarios of their relations in the future. This course will be very helpful to understand Russian foreign policy in Europe and EU’s relations with a major external partner.

Learning Objectives

• To offer an in-depth and comprehensive study of the Russia-EU relationship; European Union remains Russia’s largest economic partner and 2nd foreign policy partner (after the Post-Soviet states and integration projects).
• To explore history of the relations, their legal, political, economic and analytical framework.
• To offer detailed analyses of the major areas of Russia-EU relations.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Defines the object and subject of the Russia-EU relations
• Defines the main methods and theories of studying Russia-EU relations
• Assesses the place of Europe and the EU in Russian development and Russian foreign policy
• Explains the features of valuable component in EU-Russia relations
• Assesses the major external challenges for the EU and Russia and their impact on the relations
• Explains the historical background and the main features of EU-Russia relations in 1991-1999
• Defines the historical and structural features of EU-Russia relations
• Assesses the perspectives and scenarios of bilateral relations development
• Assesses the launch of European and Russian integration projects (Eastern Partnership and the Customs Union/Eurasian Union).
• Assesses the legal aspects of EU external relations
• Explains the EU relations with non-member states: problem of forming political and legal basis
• Assesses the present state and perspectives of the dialog in 2009.
• Assesses the bilateral relations between Russia and the EU member states in the Russia-EU relations
• Defines the structure and mechanism of the EU external policy forming
• Analyzes Russia-EU dialogue on European and International security
• Defines the main interests of Russia and EU in the post-Soviet space
• Assesses Russia-EU relations in the energy field
• Defines the general questions of EU-Russia economic relations
• Explains the main issues, structural and external limitations of partnership between EU and Russia
• Defines the unique features of EU-Russia transport relations
• Assesses the Russia-EU relations in the sphere of science and technologies

Course Contents

• Introduction to the studies of Russia – EU Relations
  An introduction conversation with the students. A short review of the Course and it’s structure. Requirements and recommendations. Defining object and subject of the Russia-EU relations
• Methods and theories of studying Russia-EU relations
  The main fields of research and schools. National studies. European studies. Studies on Russian policy toward EU. Structural and historical approach in the EU-Russia relations studies
• The place of Europe and the EU in Russian development and Russian foreign policy
  Debates on European identity of Russia. Advantages and limitations in EU-Russia relations. The concept of “strategic partnership”. The problem of democratic deficit.
• Values and interests: the key dilemma of the Russia-EU relations
  Features of valuable component in EU-Russia relations. The problem of values evolution in EU-Russia political dialog. Basic values of European Union and Russia.
• External environment of the Russia-EU relations: the major external challenges for the EU and Russia and their impact on the relations
  Specific features of EU and Russian international status. Role and place of Russia and EU in the world political and economic system. Common geographic and structural challenges Russia and EU facing.
• The Russia-EU relations in 1991-1999
  Historical background and the main features of EU-Russia relations at this period. The EURussia relations at the early stage. Structural transformation of Russia and EU and it’s impact to the bilateral relations development.
• Russia-EU relations in 1999-2003
  Historical and structural features of EU-Russia relations – mutual strategies and approaches. EU-Russia relations and NATO-Russia relations. EU approach toward the North Caucasus conflict. Development of EU-Russia trade partnership. The problem of “European choice” of Russia and Kaliningrad transit issue.
• Russia-EU relations in 2003-2008
  Beginning of the fundamental changing in EU-Russia relations. Values and interests: January-February of 2004. Pragmatic approach and the EU internal crisis influence. Transformation of the energy dialog. EU and the August War of 2008. Perspectives and scenarios of bilateral relations development.
• EU-Russia relations in 2009-2013
  The 2009 gas crisis and its consequences for the EU energy policy and EU-Russia energy dialogue. The non-visa free regime dialogue. The Lisbon Treaty and the transformation of the EU. The 2010 presidential elections in Ukraine and the relations on the post-soviet space. The launch of European and Russian integration projects (Eastern Partnership and the Customs Union/Eurasian Union). The Partnership for modernization project.
• Legal aspects of EU external relations
  Legal personality of the EU. European Union’s external competences, concept of common commercial policy and implied powers of the EU. The problem of competence tensions appearing during negotiations or after agreement conclusion. EU as a member of international organizations. Mixed agreements and interstate agreements.
• Political and legal basis of the EU-Russia relations
  EU relations with non-member states: problem of forming political and legal basis. Appearance and key provisions of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement of 1994. Institutional structure and political and legal basis of EU-Russia relations: general features.
• Russia-EU negotiations on the New Strategic Agreement. The problem of new political and legal basis in the Russia-EU relations
  Problems in political and legal foundations of EU-Russia relations: key issuers. “The problem of 2007” and forming of the Russian approach. Specific features of the dialog over the new general agreement. Present state and perspectives of the dialog in 2009.
• Bilateral relations between Russia and the EU member states in the Russia-EU relations
  The main dilemma of Russian policy toward EU. Traditional Russian partners within European Union (France, Germany, Italy) and relations with them. Consequences of the EU enlargement for EU-Russia relations. The main problems of bilateral relations with Central European and Baltic countries. The influence of bilateral relations with EU-members on EU-Russian dialog. The problem of possible EU enlargement
• The problem of the EU common and unified policy in the Russia-EU relations
  Structure and mechanism of the EU external policy forming. The main problems of forming the EU common approach toward Russia. Overcoming the European dissociation in policy toward Russia: potential and possible formats.
• Russia-EU dialogue on European and International security. Development of the CFSP and ESDP and Russia-EU relations
  Russian external and military policy, European defense policy: political and legal foundations of interaction. Experience and problems of interaction: common interests, transformation of NATO, rivalry in the post-Soviet space. New formats of the European security structure: minimal interaction, limited partnership, advanced cooperation, political and military alliance.
• Russia-EU relations at the Post-Soviet space
  The main interests of Russia and EU in the post-Soviet space. Influence of Russian and EU policy toward former USSR republics on EU-Russia relations. The impact of the US enlargement on Russia-EU relations at the Post-Soviet space. EU Neighborhood policy. EU Eastern Partnership program. The case of Ukraine in the Russia-EU relations.
• Russia-EU relations in the energy field
  Establishment of the Energy dialog. Main stages of development and institutions, investment opportunities. Difference in conceptual approaches toward the dialog, the problem of EU regulatory policy. EU-Russia tensions over energy, energy problem in the negotiations over the new general agreement.
• General questions of EU-Russia economic relations: perspectives of CEC
  The main trends and features of EU-Russia economic relations, evolution of economic interdependence. Political and legal basis of cooperation: dual nature of economic relations – national and supranational factors. Identification and widening of common economic interests, forming foundations for new economic agreement. Stimulation of sectoral cooperation, institutional development and new role of business-community; free-trade area question.
• EU-Russia cooperation in sphere of domestic security (justice and home affairs)
  The main issuers, structural and external limitations of partnership. Political and legal basis of cooperation. The visa-free regime issue in EU-Russia relations. Potential and perspectives of partnership in the sphere of domestic security.
• Russia-EU relations in the field of transport
  Unique features of EU-Russia transport relations. Political and legal basis of cooperation. The problem of trans-Siberian flights, the problem of “roping” in sectoral EU-Russia relations. Potential opportunities and limitations in the process of transport markets integration of EU and Russia.
• Russia-EU relations in the sphere of science and technologies
  EU science policy and cooperation with non-member countries. Russian interest in developing science and technological cooperation with EU, Bologna process and EU-Russia cooperation within FP7. Political and legal basis of cooperation.

Assessment Elements

• Exam in the form of a written test
  Test consists of multiple choice and open quetions.
• Attandance

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (2 module)
  0.3 * Attandance + 0.7 * Exam in the form of a written test

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Мир вокруг России: 2017 : контуры недалекого будущего, , 2007
• Мировая политика : учеб. пособие, Бордачев, Т. В., 2007
• Пределы европеизации. Россия и Европейский союз 1991-2007 гг. : теория и практика отношений, Бордачев, Т. В., 2007

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Russia-EU relations : the present situation and prospects / Centre for European Policy Studies. (2005). Brussels. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.389731757
• Tatiana Romanova. (2008). Russia and Europe in the Twenty‐First Century: An Uneasy Partnership – Edited by J. Gower and G. Timmins. Journal of Common Market Studies, (3), 727. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5965.2008.00797_14.x
• Азиатский многоугольник : конфликтность и потенциал интеграции, Караганов, С. А., 2007
• Европейский Союз: право и отношения с Россией: Монография / П.А. Калиниченко. - М.: Норма: НИЦ Инфра-М, 2012. - 272 с.: 60x90 1/16. (обложка) ISBN 978-5-91768-286-0 - Режим доступа: http://znanium.com/catalog/product/313914
• Шишкина О.В. - Внешнеполитические ресурсы. Россия и ЕС на пространстве «общего соседства» - Издательство "Аспект Пресс" - 2014 - 158с. - ISBN: 978-5-7567-0657-4 - Текст электронный // ЭБС ЛАНЬ - URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/68752