... coronavirus testing systems, and other medications and medical equipment. Food aid has been no less important for Syrians. In April, Russian grain, which had previously been in short supply on the market, was delivered to the port of Tartus.
Although the European Union expressed its support for the UN Secretary General’s appeal to lift the sanctions off several states, including Syria, so that the needed medical and humanitarian aid could be provided, in practice, Europe’s contribution is doubtful....
On May 21, 2020, RIAC held an online round-table discussion "COVID-19 Epidemic: the Future of "European Unity" and EU Foreign Policy"
On May 21, 2020, RIAC held an online round-table discussion "COVID-19 Epidemic: the Future of "European Unity" and EU Foreign Policy".
Opening speeches were made by: Igor Ivanov, RIAC President; Alexander Grushko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia...
Policy Brief #27 / 2020
Policy Brief #27 / 2020
Executive Summary
— The report asesses the risks of sanctions against Russia over the year.
— By 2020, the use of sanctions against Russia had gained much more stability compared to previous years. The damage caused by the new restrictive measures can be considered limited. The key issue is whether the situation in the coming year will remain stable?
— Given the scale of the Russian economy, the current sanctions are unlikely to derail it. However...
... booming population, developing economies, a crucial need for energy security and international commitment to sustainability and green economies, this continent has all the characteristics of an attractive market for nuclear and renewable resources. The European Union and the Russian Federation are giants in the sphere of energy: not only do they develop and manufacture energy technologies and power plants, but also have a genuine interest in exporting them globally. This includes the African continent....
Global business openly calls for stronger government cyberspace regulation
Traditionally, private companies have advocated minimal government intervention into their activities. Yet, starting in 2019, the situation began to change radically. Today, global business is openly calling for stronger government cyberspace regulation.
Anastasia Tolstukhina:
Global Tech Companies Counter Online Terrorist Content
“The government needs to get involved… there will be more regulation of the tech sector”,...
... all. Russia ratified the Paris climate change agreement. The Minsk process moved forward slightly, and in December there was a top-level summit in Paris of the Normandy Four. Agreement was reached on gas transit. Consultations between Russia and the European Union began on 5G communications. It is true, of course, that one cannot really speak of a serious shift in relations [between Russia and the EU], but there are certain positive moments. I would have wanted to speak about how to make use of these ...
...
envisioned
effective functioning of the judiciary and stepping up the fight against corruption, promoting people-to-people links and boosting dialogue with civil society in order to foster participation by individuals and businesses.
Russia and the European Union pinned great hopes on this initiative. On the one hand, both Moscow and Brussels clearly saw that, following the surge in the early 21
st
century, Russia–EU relations were stalling and becoming bogged down in endless bureaucratic approvals ...
... "multilaterality" - a surrogate for multipolarity promoted by key world powers, including BRICS members.
Denying the existence of a multipolar world with equal actors building their relations on the basis of trust and respect for sovereignty is already costing the European Union dearly.
Playing with sanctions has already boomeranged on the EU when Washington punished European businesses for participating in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
Russia is interested in having the EU as an independent player on the international ...
... a greater threat to their respective countries than Russia and (with the exception of Japan) China [
6
].
It is unclear exactly where the boundaries of the West begin and end. It is turning into a dual-core system with centres in Washington and the European Union that are undergoing a kind of strategic decoupling [
7
]. The United States has, since the presidency of George W. Bush, pursued a course of monetizing and pragmatizing relations with its allies, strategically leaving Europe. The European ...
A Russia-EU-Africa Strategy for Economic Development and Prosperity. Policy Brief #25/2020
Policy Brief #25/2020
A Russia-EU-Africa Strategy for Economic Development and Prosperity
Russia and the European Union are in the ambitious pursuit of Africa’s heart. Both parties continue to pursue their own rigorous cooperation strategies with the continent – Russia is preparing to open its very first industrial zone in Egypt, and the EU has guaranteed ...
