Modernisation in EU–Russian Relations: Past, Present, and Future

Obstacles to the Russian Modernization Agenda Through a Two-Level Analysis Approach

“…According to an article on the relationship between Russia and the EU by Maxine David and Tatiana Romanova (2015), published in the peer-reviewed journal European Politics and Society, since the end of the Cold-War, Russia and the EU have economically developed separate of each other. Despite agreements such as the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation (PCA) and its four common spaces (encompassing economy; freedom, security and justice; external security; research and education), as well as the Partnership for Modernization (P4M), relations between the EU and Russia have been deteriorating (David and Romanova, 2015).…”

Challenging Reductionism in Analyses of EU-Russia Energy Relations

“…For example, David and Romanova argue that although the optimistic objectives of the EU-Russia relationship have faded, the imperatives that created them have not. 2 At the heart of the current tensions and the attempts to develop a strategic partnership, is the issue of energy. Russia is a major supplier of oil, gas, coal and uranium to the EU.…”

‘With a Little Help from my Friends’: Russia’s Modernisation and the Visa Regime with the European Union

“…The research literature on Russia's modernisation partnerships with the EU and its member states was already rather sceptical before the Ukrainian crisis. A number of scholars contended that the modernisation partnership with the EU did not achieve what it was meant to achieve (Burkhardt 2013;David & Romanova 2015;Freire & Simão 2015;Larionova 2015;Makarychev & Meister 2015). For example, Romanova and Pavlova argued that the concept of modernisation had become 'an empty signifier', in other words, it could mean anything and nothing (Romanova & Pavlova 2014, p. 500).…”