Valdai Club

The decisive factor in the stress for unity and the subsequent speed and quality of the reaction of the European Union has been the distribution of competences between the supranational and national levels. The greatest controversy has arisen with respect to medical care, where all powers belong to the member states, writes Valdai Club expert Tatiana Romanova.

Resilience has become a new way of promoting the value agenda, allowing the EU to maintain its position as a source of regulatory borrowing and mentor, especially for neighbours and underdeveloped countries, writes Valdai Club expert Tatiana Romanova.

Russia should be worried about a change in EU leadership, for at least two reasons. The first reason is that in the Union there is no desire to radically change relations with present-day Russia, nor are there any creative ideas on this subject.

On June 26, leading Russian publications enthusiastically reported on Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s meeting with his French counterpart, Edouard Philippe, in Le Havre. They noted that trade has grown despite sanctions, that French companies continue taking part in projects in Russia, including in the oil-and-gas sector, and that preparations for a Russia-France forum of small and medium-sized businesses are underway under the aegis of the Russian-French Economic, Financial, Industrial and Trade Council.

Last week, the European Commission published the strategy for the Western Balkans, setting 2025 as the date of accession to the EU of Serbia and Montenegro to be followed by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and the partially recognized state of Kosovo. Valdai Club expert Tatiana Romanova considers the project to be implementation of the old EU political course, but also an attempt to show the EU’s viability after Brexit.

The threat of applying Article 7 of the Treaty on the European Union is looming over Poland, which could deprive Warsaw of the right to vote in the EU Council in connection with the violation of human rights and the principles of democracy.

The heart of the foreign policy course of French President Emmanuel Macron is pragmatism based on respect for all parties, says Valdai Club expert Tatiana Romanova.

The first hundred days of Macron did not bring to any particular results, moreover, they were marked by unpopular measures, especially inside France.

The first meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron will enable the two sides to compare notes as relations between Russia and the European Union continue to be complicated, the Valdai Club experts believe. It sends a message that Macron is a pragmatist ready to build constructive working relations and help resolve difficulties in the Russia-EU relations.

The new president of France will follow the French national interests and in this connection he has to keep good working relations with Putin. We saw this already with Sarkozy and Hollande. Becoming presidents, they had to work quite well with Vladimir Putin.