A Common Space from Lisbon to Vladivostok: Still a Pipedream

Numerous Russian and European declarations on the desire to strengthen trade and economic interdependence by and large turn into attempts to overcome persistent differences between the two sides, while the outcomes of Russia-EU summits are becoming increasingly difficult to analyse, since the parties discuss the same, seemingly insoluble, controversial issues, find no solutions, and fail to outline a clear-cut positive agenda. The talks on the New Basic Agreement (NBA) are still suspended, while sectoral agreements, although ready for approval, are, barring rare exceptions, on hold “until the next summit” in six months’ time. However, life cannot be suspended for half a year....