Charles Grant: Russia and the EU
It is high time Russia and the European Union started discussing a possible “reset” in their relations now that Russia has successfully “reset” its relations with the United States, believes Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform.
It is high time Russia and the European Union started discussing a possible “reset” in their relations now that Russia has successfully “reset” its relations with the United States, believes Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform.
Grant will take part in the seventh conference of the Valdai International Discussion Club “Russia: Its History and Future Progress,” to be held August 31 to September 7 in Moscow, Kizhi, Valaam, and St. Petersburg.
He believes that both Russia and Europe are ready for a new relationship and that Russian and international experts can discuss this issue at the Valdai International Discussion Club to improve the situation. “I think there is potential for a much closer Russia-EU relationship, and I think Valdai should explore that,” Grant said at an interview with RIA Novosti.
He believes conditions are favorable for a “reset” of Russian-European relations, as the usual opponents to this process – the Baltic states and Poland, as well as the United Kingdom – have recently softened their stand.
“There are of course difficulties,” Grant said. “As I said before, with some common issues, there remains disagreement among Europeans toward Russia. The French, Germans and Italians are to a certain extent less critical of Russia than other European counties. Not to mention Cyprus, who never criticizes Russia. That’s one issue.”
The second potential source of tension between the EU and Russia, according to Grant, concerns its nearest neighbors, especially Ukraine and Georgia.
“The lying and deceit and the corruption and incompetence of Ukraine’s rulers in the six years since their revolution has cost Ukraine many friends in the EU,” he said. “At this point many Europeans simply don’t care what is going on in Ukraine or if Ukraine is closer to Russia or not. Nevertheless, it remains a potential source of tension because if Ukraine starts restricting freedom of the press – and there are some signs of this – then even those who don’t want Ukraine in the EU (a majority of Europeans) will begin to worry about the course of Ukraine’s development.
“The fact that Russia sees this area as its backyard and that it wants a privileged relationship with these countries is a source of further discord because Europeans also see it as their backyard. This is a potential source of disagreement,” he added.
The third source of a possible conflict of interest between Russia and the European Union is energy, although the situation in this area has recently improved.
“The decline in the world gas prices has made Russia less arrogant when dealing with Europe on gas issues,” Grant said. “They are a bit more humble and a bit more constructive”
He added that Europeans in general support Russia’s aspirations for modernization, especially if it is something more far-reaching than just “creating a high-tech industry by issuing an order.”
“If Russian modernisation can be about reforming the governance and the legal system, then it could work,” he added. “It does not look promising, but it is just the beginning, and I think, in principle, modernisation is good. Many Europeans would support it in spite of their scepticism regarding its scope.” Grant also added that the issue of modernization should be discussed at the Valdai Club.
“I have taken part in Valdai three times; I will go this year as well,” the center’s director said. “I think for me, and for many of my colleagues, the most valuable thing is getting a chance to meet senior Russian leadership, getting quite a long session with them. It is also nice to get outside Moscow, to see other areas and meet local people.
“Another advantage is meeting experts on Russia, listening to them and talking to them in an informal atmosphere,” Grant said at the end of his speech. “They can often speak more freely than a government official can, which provides better insight [into current conditions in Russia].”
The Valdai International Discussion Club was founded by RIA Novosti in association with the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, the journals Russia Profile and Russia in Global Politics, and the newspaper The Moscow News. The conference “Russia: Its History and Future Progress” will start in St. Petersburg, then move to Valaam and Kizhi, and end in Moscow.