On Tuesday 9 October 2007, Charles Grant (Director, Center for European Reform) and Oksana Antonenko (IISS Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia) will lead a discussion meeting on the topic of "Russia’s Prospects and Implications for Europe" from 2.30-4pm.
Russia has entered a period of domestic political transition, as its politicians prepare for parliamentary elections in December, and presidential elections the following March. Experts and officials alike are playing a guessing game over the candidates most likely to succeed Putin. What are the likely results of the parliamentary elections? Who are the most favored candidates for the presidency? Is the current political regime likely to prove stable, despite the coming elections? What do the elections mean for the Russian economy?
And what does the politicking in Moscow mean for Russia’s strained relations with the EU and its member-states? Will the European Commission’s new proposals to liberalise its internal energy market, and limit investment from countries that do not allow reciprocal access, lead to a new rift with Russia? Is there a chance of the EU forging a common strategy towards Russia, and if so, what should it be?
The discussion will be led by Charles Grant and Oksana Antonenko, who recently took part in the Valdai Discussion Club programme in Russia, which included a four hour meeting with President Putin as well as meetings with representatives of the leading political parties. Charles Grant heads one of the leading independent think-tanks that focuses on EU policy research, and he specialises in European foreign policy. Oksana Antonenko has co-edited a book on EU-Russian relations which was published by Routledge in 2004.
This meeting will take place on the Fifth Floor at Arundel House, 13-15 Arundel Street, Temple Place, London WC2R 3DX.
If you would like to attend, please RSVP Kathleen James on E-mail:
james@iiss.org or Tel: 020 7395 9109
