FUTURE MODEL OF RUSSIA-EU RELATIONS- VALDAI CLUB

The Valdai Club has formulated its “six principles” that should guide Russia’s interactions with the EU.

1. Openness toward all partners and a readiness to develop relations with any state or non-state player in the European Union at the national or European level, and to propose initiatives targeted at specific players in the political and business environment of the EU. Relations should be transparent to the public and business community in Russia, Europe and the world. The parties can promote this by involving the representatives of a broad range of nongovernmental organizations and interest groups in the dialogue, relying on input from major economic players and by rejecting all forms of backroom dealing and parliamentary control.
2. Inclusiveness of relations. Russia should be comfortable with the fact that some participants in the Eurasian integration project, as well as their economic actors, are interested in maintaining and expanding their ties with the European Union unless, of course, those ties compromise their EAEU obligations. Wherever possible, cooperation between Russia and the EU or with EU member states should benefit the process of Eurasian integration and help to improve its regulatory framework and practices.
3. Subsidiarity and necessity of resolving each question at the most appropriate level: either Russia working with EU member states or with the European Union as a whole. If a question can be decided at the inter-country or interregional level, it should not be put on the agenda for higher-level relations between Moscow and Brussels.
4. Proportionality of actions and levels of dialogue, which should correspond to the fragmented nature of practical cooperation. It is time to abandon the penchant for making pronouncements and the desire to address all areas of activity. Instead, we should make proportional use of institutional mechanisms for cooperation, foremost concerning meetings at the highest level. It is necessary to adapt institutions to the real needs of cooperation and eliminate superfluous formats of dialogue.
5. Diversification of foreign and external economic relations. Practice has shown that, rather than foster stable relations, over-dependence leads to dangerous imbalances. Russia must gradually reduce the share of the EU in its foreign trade while simultaneously involving the European Union and individual EU member states in broader formats of cooperation primarily those in Eurasia. These would include involvement by Russia, EAEU member states, China, Iran, India, South Korea, Mongolia and other Eurasian states.
6. Unconditional rescindment by the EU of its visa ban against all Crimean residents who were granted Russian citizenship after March 2014, as well as all “special” sanctions targeted exclusively at Crimeans. Such targeted “punishment” of Crimean residents runs contrary to basic notions of human rights. Of course, these are only an initial treatment of these issues. It is necessary to stimulate further discussion on these subjects both within Russia and with its European partners whether members the European Union or not. Preferably, Brussels would also participate in an official or semiofficial capacity. The Valdai Discussion Club believes that the time has come for such a discussion and calls on all interested parties in Russia and the European Union to participate. Only through cooperative efforts can we understand how to avoid repeating the mistakes that brought us to the current impasse and build a new model of relations that will answer the interests of all.