UACES Study Group S001

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The Nature and Development of Political, Economic and Security Relationships Between the EU, Russia and Other CIS States
Organisers: Mr Grahame Fallon and Mr Alan Jones, Northampton Business School, University College Northampton

Meetings scheduled for 2 May 2003, 4 July 2003 and 5 December 2003 at the University College Northampton.

Participation in this interdisciplinary study group is invited from potential paper-contributors and discussants, UK or non-UK university staff and PhD students. Limited funds may be available to offset against the travelling costs of PhD students and non-UK academics.

Our proposed themes are as follows:

ECONOMICS

(i) the likely advantages and disadvantages of Russian accession to the WTO for the EU and other CIS countries, together with the linkage between WTO membership and the development of EU/Russia/CIS trade relations

(ii) the strengths, weaknesses and future development of the EU’s TACIS programme, the PCA, the EEA and the projected European Economic Space, and their contribution to effective structural reforms and to economic transition in Russia

(iii) the importance of energy trade between the EU, Russia and other CIS states, the likely extent of the former's future energy dependence on Russian and CIS sources, and the resultant implications for political, economic and security relations between the EU, Russia and the CIS

(iv) the nature, development, determinants and obstacles to foreign direct investment in Russia by EU companies and its implications for successful economic transition and catch-up in Russia, including technological change, domestic investment and human capital development

SECURITY

(v) the potential role of the EU (acting in co-operation with NATO) in encouraging stability-enhancing reforms of Russia's armed forces, together with a peaceful settlement of the continuing crisis in Chechnya

(vi) the role to be played by the EU and its potential new Eastern European member states in helping to manage Russian/CIS relations with Kaliningrad and the Baltic states

(vii) the existence of a range of security problems centring on international crime, terrorism, drug trafficking and the illegal cross-border movement of people between Russia, the CIS and the EU, and the degree to which such problems could usefully be managed by EU/Russia/CIS co-operation

POLITICS

(viii) the evolving characteristics of Russia's political economy and that of leading CIS states, such as the Ukraine and Moldova, with particular reference to the former's conception of its statehood and 'great power' status, and the resultant implications for Russian foreign policy and for its political, economic and security relations with the EU and its member states

(ix) the potential role to be played by neo-functionalism and socialisation in determining future EU policy development towards Russia and the CIS, and in influencing Russian/CIS governmental responses to EU initiatives and policy measures, taking into account the developing relationship between the EU, Russia and NATO

Contact:
    Grahame Fallon (grahame.fallon@northampton.ac.uk) or
    Alan Jones, (alan.jones@northampton.ac.uk)
    Centre for Research into East European Management
    University College Northampton
    Northampton NN2 7ALL
    T: +44 1604 735 500 extension 2743
    F: +44 1604 721 214