Research Papers

A considerable part of the literature approaches the interaction of EU and Russian policies in the post-Soviet space in terms of intense competition, following from an incompatibility of interests. This paper questions whether this paradigm of competition is well-suited to understand the overall interaction of EU and Russia policies in their common neighbourhood. Rather than focusing on the incompatibility of interests (which varies strongly over policy fields), it focuses on the incompatibility of images of identities through which these interests are understood. Self-images differ from the images of the other (EU: normative power versus intrusive builder of a sphere of influence; Russia: legitimate regional power versus neo-imperialist) and the non-recognition of identities creates strong perceptions of competition and mistrust. A second dimension complicates this further: there is also a strong perception of competition between Russia and the countries of the common neighbourhood. It is argued that both Russia and Ukraine have sought recognition from the EU as its primary partner, be it on different grounds (Russia as strategic energy partner and regional power; Ukraine as most advanced Eastern Partnership state). The EU thus plays an important role in reshaping the hierarchy of identities in Eastern Europe. For the analysis the paper focuses on energy policies and visa liberalisation and discursive framing within these fields.