Even before the Ukrainian crisis neither Russia nor the EU were content with their
relationship. Despite economic interdependence strategic partnership official declarations of
belonging culturally and historically to the same 'European family' and in spite of Russia's
stated interest in establishing an economic community stretching from Lisbon to Vladivostok
the two actors found it difficult to agree on important issues. The conflictual atmosphere
between the EU and Russia has three main dimensions: the normative issue energy relations and
the shared neighbourhood with the latter being particularly salient after the launch of the
Eastern Partnership (EaP) in 2009. The former Soviet space is at the core of Russian foreign
policy. Moscow's special interest in this area results from economic factors diaspora issues
and most importantly from its perceived security need. Obsessed by a fear of being encircled
by enemies Russia sees its hegemony over the former Soviet republics as paramount to the
protection of its own borders. Therefore the rapprochement of any other actor towards this
region is regarded with high suspicion. Against this background Vasile Rotaru analyzes
EU-Russia relations with a particular emphasis on the impact of the EaP on Moscow's relations
with Brussels. He argues that the EaP represented a turning point in EU-Russia relations
determining Moscow to revise its attitude towards the Union. Rotaru explains that even if the
EaP was Brussels' initiative the Partnership met the aspirations of the six former Soviet
republics. Moreover despite its opposition towards the EU's initiative Russia itself acted
involuntarily as a propeller of the EaP. By aiming to keep the former Soviet republics close
Moscow often conducts an assertive aggressive policy in the 'near abroad.' This strategy
however had mostly opposite effects causing Russia's neighbors to look elsewhere for support
of their sovereignty. From this perspective the rapprochement of Moldova Belarus Ukraine
and the three Caucasus republics with the EU has not been determined only by Brussels'
prosperity and soft-power attractiveness but also by existential fears in the former Soviet
republics. The book appeals to a wide range of students researchers and professors
specializing on Russia the EU and the former Soviet space in the fields of International
Relations Foreign Policy Analysis and Security Studies as well as to think-tank analysts and
policy makers.
