The Securitisation of the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood: What Role for Russia?

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the European Union’s (EU) security relations with the countries in its Eastern neighbourhood, namely Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. It assesses the extent to which Russia’s political (in-) action contributes to EU security policies vis-à-vis the region. It thus underlines the distinctive character of EU relations with Russia — one of its most significant neighbours — when compared to other smaller states in the EU’s neighbourhood. This difference is based on this neighbour’s demands for and the recognition by EU leaders of the strategic relevance of ‘closer relations with Russia’ for joint ‘security and prosperity’ (European Council, 2003: 14; see also: European Parliament, 2011: 1; European Commission, 2011: 4). There are several security issues on the common agenda, including political stability, energy security and conflict resolution, particularly in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus — and towards which Russia has developed its own neighbourhood policies.