EU Politicisation as a Factor of Sustainability of Sanctions Towards Russia: the Case of the European Parliament

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Abstract

The article is dedicated to the analysis of the relationship between the EU politicisation and the dynamics of the sanctions regime against the Russian Federation. Based on the logic of the post-functionalist theory of European integration, the issues of European integration and the EU foreign policy within the framework of politicisation at the national level are challenged by Eurosceptic actors, creating impulses, including for the sustainability of the sanctions regime. In this context, understanding politicisation as the polarisation of positions on the EU's anti-Russian sanctions, the increased visibility of this issue in the discourse of institutions/actors and attempts by the latter to expand their influence by promoting initiatives within the framework of the sanctions course, the article analyses the politicisation of anti-Russian sanctions issues by the European Parliament in 2022-2025. The conclusions of the study are that in the case of the European Parliament the effect of limited politicisation within the framework of sanctions policy is formed, which implies the EP's interest in continuing the sanctions course and increasing its place within the framework of the CFSP, but does not lead to the EP's internal polarisation on the issue of anti-Russian sanctions. The latter could serve as a basis for revising/weakening the EP's role as an instigator of new sanctions restrictions against Moscow. Thus, the politicisation of the institution within the framework of the above-mentioned issues works to increase the sustainability of the EU sanctions regime against Russia.

About the authors

S. A Shein

National Research University “Higher School of Economics”

Email: sshein@hse.ru
Candidate of Sciences (Politics), Associate Professor; Senior research Moscow, Russia, 119017

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