On-line journal no. 4 – July 2012 - Modelling the New Europe
On-line journal no. 4 – July 2012 - Modelling the New Europe
On-line journal no. 4 – July 2012 - Modelling the New Europe
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<strong>On</strong>-<strong>line</strong> Journal <strong>Modelling</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>New</strong> <strong>Europe</strong><br />
Issue <strong>no</strong>. 4/<strong>2012</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> future it has to better define what role it can play <strong>the</strong>re and especially how it can make<br />
a difference. 47<br />
The Russian trend of reluctance or <strong>no</strong>n-involvement towards Black Sea initiatives<br />
continued for <strong>the</strong> year 2008 when o<strong>the</strong>r cooperation schemes have emerged. Russia was<br />
involved nei<strong>the</strong>r in <strong>the</strong> Union of Black Sea and Caspian Confederation of Enterprises,<br />
<strong>no</strong>r in <strong>the</strong> Regional Cooperation Council and it was sceptic regarding <strong>the</strong> implementation<br />
of <strong>the</strong> Black Sea Euroregion.<br />
All <strong>the</strong> forums and initiatives dec<strong>line</strong>d by Russia had a very short life, fading into oblivion<br />
several years after <strong>the</strong>ir initiation. This should be a signal for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Europe</strong>an Union to focus<br />
its strategy towards <strong>the</strong> Black Sea region in such a manner as to offer <strong>the</strong> opportunity to<br />
collaborate with Russia in those sectors that already proved to function. In o<strong>the</strong>r words,<br />
before creating a strategy for <strong>the</strong> Black Sea region, EU should develop and establish a<br />
specific and constructive regional collaboration plan with Russia, o<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>the</strong> wider<br />
scheme included in <strong>the</strong> Strategic Partnership. This is undoubtedly a difficult mission since<br />
Russian foreign policy until <strong>no</strong>w has focused on creating and maintaining security gaps<br />
leaving <strong>no</strong> alternative of engagement.<br />
From our analysis, we can draw <strong>the</strong> conclusion that until <strong>no</strong>w, cooperation with Russia<br />
could be successfully achieved only on bilateral bases and only on security and eco<strong>no</strong>mic<br />
sectors. Despite being praised for its pragmatism and its “tenaciously realistic approach to<br />
international affairs” 48 , Russia had a contradictory position regarding <strong>the</strong> differentiation<br />
between internal and external regional actors. As Makarychev argues, “Russia welcomes<br />
investment from external financial resources (from US and Japan) in regional projects, but<br />
47 Mariana Milosheva and David Krushe, Review of <strong>the</strong> first year of Black Sea Trust for Regional<br />
Cooperation,<br />
[http://www.pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADS397.pdf] 3 June <strong>2012</strong><br />
48 Joseph Wood, “The Kremlin’s behaviour limits <strong>the</strong> scope of Western engagement” in Brussels Forum<br />
Paper Series, 2009, pp. 3-39<br />
30