Publication

This paper examines the relationship between the European Union and Russia. It outlines that the model of a comprehensive multisectoral treaty is not suited to the case of Russia, which is not applying for membership. Attempts to produce weaker derivatives of this model result in long-winded and pretentious texts that are devoid of legally-binding substance. The paper proposes to focus on concrete, sector-specific agreements and suggests a three-stage concept, starting with an extended status quo in the short-run, leading to a political declaration on strategic partnership in the medium-term and to a treaty of strategic union in the long term.