4. Cooperation and Trust: When Russia and the European Union Listen to Themselves

To have real cooperation between states it is necessary for both parties to truly want to cooperate not using agreements simply to create the time necessary to prepare and resume hostilities. Second, in order to obtain an effective cooperation it must bring profits to both parts, without a real disproportion between achievements. While analysing the relation between the European Union and Russia we should determine the “quantity of mutual trust” and find the easiest steps to strengthen it. Certainly, Russia does not appear to share the EU’s own perception of itself as the other major power on the continent and has continued to regard bilateral relations with the traditional “great European powers” such as Germany and France as the normal way of conducting relations with the EU member states. Although access to the EU’s market has been seen as an important objective by Moscow, the potential benefits of a closer political relationship are only gradually being appreciated. Both sides—the European Union and Russia—need each other. Basically, geography is both irreplaceable and a good argument for strengthening bilateral relations, because the future always belongs to those who cooperate.