Politics Unit 3 AOS2- Impact of Interests: The EU

Question 1

EU background

Answer 1

• Political & economic partnership between 27 members states
• Made in hopes that by pooling sovereignty in certain areas (mainly economic) states would become further interconnected & therefore less likely to go to war
• Partially a supranational organisation

Question 2

EU in the Russia-Ukraine war

Answer 2

Key interest of EU with conflict is to protect their energy supplies
- Prior to conflict EU heavily relied on Russian gas
- Interest in maintaining this supply has had significant impact on course of the conflict

Question 3

Role of Interests in Crisis- Perspective

Answer 3

• Exists on fundamental trust in democracy & free trade
• Views conflict as attack on sovereignty
• Heavy reliance on Russia for resources
• Considering Ukraine as potential member so sees them as valuable
• Singular goals as whole but fragmented values among mem-states

Question 4

Role of Interests in Crisis- Interests

Answer 4

1. Protect their influx of natural resources
2. Maintain global order & democratic systems- security of mem-states
3. Maintain system of free global trade- economic prosperity of mem-states

Question 5

Role of Interests in Crisis- Actions

Answer 5

Applied sanctions to Russian assets - –
- Aimed to increase Russia’s cost of invasion, restrict Russia’s military capacity, reduce Europe’s economic interdependence on Russia
- However took <1 year to implement
Continued to import gas from Russia + made gas deals with both India & China (both of which import gas from Russia)

Question 6

Role of Interests in Crisis- Course of Crisis

Answer 6

• Delays in implementing sanctions allowed Russia to prepare for financial pressures
• Financial response over military response allowed Russia to make trade deals with others (e.g. China)
• Continued imports of Russian gas gives funding to continue to war
  All factors work in prolonging the crisis