Gergana Noutcheva & Roberta N. Haar (2020)
Policy Brief No. 1/2020
The enlargement of the EU and NATO to include Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans has been one of the cornerstones of European security over the last two decades. It has contributed to the peace and prosperity of the whole continent by dismantling old divisions and building new foundations for Europe-wide partnerships in security, democracy and economic well-being. Yet, Russia has balked at these processes, even feeling left out of them. As a result, Russia has progressively increased its challenges to both the EU’s and NATO’s enlargement plans, by resurrecting memories of geopolitical confrontation and external threat. This poses a fundamental dilemma for both the EU and NATO, which has elicited two divergent responses. On the one hand, both organizations have stood firm when faced with challenges to the values and principles that underpin their enlargement decisions. On the other hand, a recognition that working with Russia enhances European peace and prosperity, prompts them to find commonalities with the Russian state. This policy brief will first examine the EU’s and NATO’s current disparate relationship with Russia. Second, it will assess varying policy scenarios that suggest how the two organizations might go forward in their dealings with Russia
