Following the decision of the Russian Federation to annex Crimea, EU-Russia relations have reached a historic low point. EU policy towards Russia seems to have undergone a tectonic shift. Sanctions against Russia, strategising on how to reduce the energy dependency of Europe on Russian gas and decreasing the vulnerability of the European member states to the possible economic disengagement with Russia, have all dominated the European policy agenda. 

What is the likely impact of the Western sanctions on Russia’s internal political and economic developments? Does Russia have a viable alternative for developing economic and political ties in the East if the confrontation with the West continues? What does the future of the democratic movement in Russia look like? What are the concerns of the countries in the “shared neighbourhood” of the EU and Russia. We will address the implications of post-Ukraine Russian policy for the political and economic future of Russia at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies. 

Programme:

12:30-13:00       Lunch and registration

13:00-13:10       Welcome by Tomi Huhtanen, Director, Martens Centre

13:10-13:45       Panel Discussion:

13:45-14:45       Q&A moderated by Roland Freudenstein, Head of Research and Deputy Director, Martens Centre