An European Union-Russia two-day summit opens on this Monday. The Syrian crisis, economic cooperation and the Iranian nuclear program include the agenda. It is likely that the diplomatic weakness of Brussels blocks any real progress in the negotiations | By Jean-Sylvestre MONGRENIER, Research Fellow at the Thomas More Institute | Published on Atlantico.fr, on Monday, 3 June, 2013 | Available in French

Le sommet qui débute ce lundi semble osciller entre la tentation d'un accord commercial et les désaccords diplomatiques (Syrie, nucléaire iranien, respect des droits de l'Homme...). Peut-on réellement dire aujourd'hui que Moscou pourrait-être amenée à offrir des gages à ses principaux "partenaires" européens ?

Tout (...)

Up to now, no one has really doubted that the Russian State and Gazprom have overlapping interests on European energy markets. The State gas company’s projects fit within the State’s policies towards Europe. There is a coincidence of positions between both players, Gazprom relaying and implementing Russia’s State strategy to the European Union (EU). Hence, a largely-shared analysis among European policy-makers that Gazprom is the energy armed wing of the Russian government, its tool, one of its levers for action. That Thomas More Institute Tribune strongly questions this too easy approach. By highlighting Gazprom’s corporate and economic strategies in Europe, it presents a more nuanced picture of Russian energy positions (...)

The negotiation upon Iran’s military nuclear program is locked and the Almaty meeting, in Kazakhstan, on the 26th of February, should not be a new step. We are getting closer the “red line” and confrontation. But if there is not much to expect from the meeting, however, this event draws attention to Kazakhstan. This country is very often perceived as a satellite state of “Russia-Eurasia” but such an appraisal may be hasty | By Jean-Sylvestre MONGRENIER, Research Fellow at the Thomas More Institute | Available in French

Le 26 février 2013, Almaty accueillera une nouvelle réunion des « 5+1 » (les membres permanents du Conseil de sécurité plus l’Allemagne) et de l’Iran pour ouvrir des négociations sur le (...)

Moscow and Washington are engaged in a diplomatic and legislative battle since the Magnitsky affair, the name of an American lawyer who died in 2009 during his detention in Russia | Interview with Jean-Sylvestre MONGRENIER, Research Fellow at the Thomas More Institute | Atlantico.fr, December 31, 2012

Vladimir Putin recently said, following the “Magnitsky affair” complications, that the relationship between Moscow and Washington are poisoned. Beyond this question that could seem minor, what can justify today renewed tensions between the two countries? 

The “Magnitski affair” adds up to the “Yukos affair” and the imprisonment of Khodorkovsky - without even coming back on Putin’s personal power and his way (...)

Russia became on Wednesday the 156th member country of the WTO (World Trade Organization). This country which represents less than 3% of the world trade is going to be able to modernize its economy. However, that are going to win the members of the WTO of this historic entrance? | Interview of Jean-Sylvestre MONGRENIER, Research Fellow at the Thomas More Institute | Published on Atlantico.fr, on Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012 | Available in French

1 ) La Russie est devenue ce mercredi le 156ème membre de l'OMC. Comment expliquer ce revirement de la part du pays et son entrée si tardive dans cette organisation ? 

Moscou a un temps affirmé vouloir faire passer son projet d’union douanière avec la Biélorussie et le (...)