The Normative Dimension of Contestation in EU-EEU Relations

From abroad and more importantly from inside, the EU’s international role has been described as a “civilian” or “normative power” for years. Against the backdrop of a re-emerging global power competition, an increasing number of foreign policy actors within the EU advocate a more interest-driven foreign policy. In an approach to balance both foreign policy concepts, the “EU Global Strategy“ called famously for a “principled pragmatism”. As part of the new global power competition, relations between with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and some of its member states, most notably Russia, have become increasingly contentious. These tensions could result from a civilian power facing an increasingly competitive international environment. However, they could also result from a new self-perception of the EU as an international power broker. Against the backdrop of the ongoing EU policy debate, the paper explores for the case study of EU-EEU relations to what degree the EU’s self-perception of its role as international actor has changed in recent years. Do EU foreign policy decision-makers covering relations with the EEU see the EU as a “civilian” or “normative power”? What other self-descriptions of their role in international relations are found, if changes occurred in recent years? Can we observe a shift away from the normative power conception towards a more interest-driven understanding of EU foreign policy? In parallel the paper also explores the EU foreign policy actors’ understanding of the EEU’s role in international relations. How do they perceive the EEU and do these perceptions affect the contentious relationship between the EU and the EEU? The paper presents preliminary findings from a project researching the EU’s and EEU’s mutual perceptions as well as their self-perception. The project aims at understanding how these perceptions affect the tensions between both actors as well as their potential for cooperation. The paper presents findings from a qualitative analysis of official EU policy documents as well as semi-structured interviews with foreign policy decision-makers from the EU institutions and national governments. By applying frame analysis, the self-perceptions of the EU as a foreign policy actor as well as the perception of the EEU as a partner or opponent will be uncovered. Additionally, frame analysis is used to investigate the basic principles and norms underpinning the current contestation.