Rethinking Russia
That is the name given an editorial in the Financial Times. It describes the complete disarray in the European Union's approach to dealing with the old enemy. It is not using a strategy for success at the moment.
The European Union's relationship with its most powerful neighbour is dysfunctional. Last week's summit with Russia was a dismal affair, overshadowed by internal EU squabbling, the mysterious death of a former Russian spy and sundry rows over pipelines and food safety. Before the next summit in May, the EU needs a robust and unified policy that allows co-operation without offering Russia the chance to dictate terms.
Russian energy politics moved belatedly to the top of the EU agenda in early January, when Moscow cut off gas to Ukraine. The EU's own dependence on Russian gas increases every day. Yet the bloc remains deeply divided over how to manage that dependence. On the eve of the summit with President Vladimir Putin, EU countries failed to agree a common stance for negotiations.
While Poland calls consistently for a tougher line on Russia, and is supported by other states that suffered under the Soviet yoke, the EU's big four - Germany, France, the UK and Italy - are much keener on cordial relations. With Russia the cost of disunity is too high for the natural fractiousness of the bloc to be indulged.
Frankly, Russia's descent into totalitarianism is accelerating. What the FT describes is essentially the disarray caused by various members of the EU grasping or failing to grasp what is really happening in Putin's Russia right now. It might be a really good idea for them to step back and really formulate a unified approach. Or they just might find themselves facing a renewed threat from Russia.
World news | Gaius Monday, 27 November , 2006
By Guy, Monday, 27 November , 2006 @ 8:12 am
Amen! I’m afraid that the bear has only been in hibernation all these years.