the collapse of the communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe opened up new
avenues of interaction between the EU and its eastern neighbours. The addition of eight
countries from this region to the EU in 2004 and two more in 2007 met with minimal immediate
objections from Russia. As the implications of EU enlargement became more evident, however,
new complications emerged in the EU-Russian relationship. Still, if handled with the appropriate
vision and balance, EU enlargement could set a more positive trajectory for the relationship in
the long run. This contribution explores three elements of this dynamic: the inclusion of new
member states in EU decision-making vis-à-vis Russia, the economic impact of enlargement
and the effects of enlargement on Russia’s regional geopolitical interests.
Although Russia has voiced its objections to NATO expansion since the early 1990s,
it appeared to
have fewer problems with EU enlargement.