Strategicus Consulting

Radu Florea

March 8, 2010

Generally speaking, there shouldn't be a choice between human rights and trade. Not for Russia, not for any other country in the world. However, if we speak about trade with Russia, we probably think about gas.

Early 2006, the Russian energy company Gazprom forced Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova to pay sharply higher prices for natural gas, and envisaged to negotiate new prices for Eastern European countries. Although many would say these increases could be linked to the Kremlin's political games - on a seller's market such as gas supply - the truth is that these new prices only reflect an extensive control of the Russians towards their own natural resources and an attempt to get more money for the same product. Soon, this trade policy will probably hit the EU (especially Eastern and Central Europe countries, as it already did in 2009), but its impact will be, most likely, only positive. The use of new, alternative sources of energy will be speeded up, research will boost, and other suppliers (e.g. Algeria, the Far East countries), will emerge.

Nevertheless, all EU countries must have a coherent attitude and build their individual trade strategy on the same basis. And, last but not least, EU's potential to support human rights in Russia should clearly move beyond seeking agreement on general commitments for the sake of a lower gas price.