External Relations Between EU And Russia

University of Gdansk

EXTERNAL RELATIONS BETWEEN EU AND RUSSIA

External Relations of the European Union

Prof. Anna Barbara KisielŁowczyc. Department of International Economic Relations.

Faculty of Economy. Sopot 2011 Summer Semester.

Fernando Roldán Ibáñez University of Valencia

Contents

1. Russia

2. EU-Russia relationship

2.1 Institutional Relations between EU and Russia

2.1.1 Partnership Cooperation Agreement (PCA)

2.1.2 Common Economic Spaces (CES)

3. Russia´s WTO accession

4. Conclusions

5. Sources

RUSSIA

The economy of Russia is the tenth-largest economy in the world by nominal value and the sixth-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). Russia has an abundance of natural gas, oil, coal, and precious metals. It is also rich in agriculture. Russia has undergone significant changes since the collapse of the Soviet Union, moving from a centrally-planned economy to a more market-based and globally-integrated economy. Economic reforms in the 1990s privatized most industry, with notable exceptions in the energy and defense-related sectors. Nonetheless, the rapid privatization process, including a much criticized "loans-for-shares" scheme that turned over major state-owned firms to politically-connected "oligarchs", has left equity ownership highly concentrated. As of 2011, Russia's capital, Moscow, now has the highest billionaire population of any city in the world.

In late 2008 and early 2009, Russia experienced the first recession after 10 years of rising economy, until the stable growth resumed in late 2009 and 2010. Despite the deep but brief recession, the economy has not been as seriously affected by the global financial crisis compared to much of Europe, largely because of the integration of short-term macroeconomic policies that helped the economy to survive.

As of April 2008, the International Monetary Fund estimates that Russia's gross domestic product (nominal) will grow from its 2007 value of $1,289,582 million to $3,462,998 million by 2013, a 168% increase. Its GDP PPP is estimated to grow from $2,087,815 to $3,330,623 in the same time, which would make it the second largest economy in Europe in terms of purchasing power.

Main Economic Indicators

Surface Area: 17.098,2100 sq km

Population: 141,4 millions of inhabitants

Current GDP: 881,3 Billians of euros

GDP per capita: 6.223 Euros

Exports to GDP ratio: 22,8%

Imports to GDP ratio: 13,4%

Trade to GDP ratio: 36,2%

2006 2007 2008 2009

Real GDP growth 7,7 8,1 5,6 -7,9

Inflation rate 9,7 9 14,1 11,7

Current account balance 9,5 6 6,2 3,9

RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND EU

The Soviet Union did not provide much attention to the European project and in fact preferred ignore the constitution of the European Communities, which never recognized as an international institution. Although the early 80's the USSR became a major energetic supplier, their approaches to Western Europe were mainly focused on the politic-military and were marked by the evolution of East-West relations. The Soviets viewed with hostility to European integration processes and, especially, sought to widen the gap between U.S. allies in Europe.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and subsequent disappearance of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the European Union (EU) has experienced a gradual development of relations with former Soviet bloc countries and in particular with Russia which for over four decades were two antagonistic blocs, have initiated an approach that has led them to become vital partners in most aspects. Thus there are agreements reached at the community level: a steel agreement came into force in 2002. Russia benefits from the EU TACIS program since 1991, the EU being the largest provider of financial and technical assistance to Russia, through this program and also under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. In 2006 in Moscow opened a training center in Europe.

The European Union's relationship with Russia is undoubtedly of strategic importance fundamental for the following reasons:

• Since the enlargement to 27, Russia is the EU's largest neighbour, with 2,200 miles

border and the territory of Kaliningrad sandwiched between several member states (Poland, Lithuania), which poses specific of problems transit and the enclave relationship Neighbouring regions. There are also problems on the delineation of borders (with Estonia mainly).

• Preserves one of the largest arsenals of weapons of mass destruction, so their guarantee stability and control of such weapons is key to European security and the world. President Putin has ordered the allocation of large financial resources to rebuild the military power of Russia and has encouraged industry consolidation and Russian defense sector.

• It is the first energy supplier to the EU, which imports from Russia almost 40% of gas and 25% of its oil. The dependence is mutual because about

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