Black Sea Vector of the European Union’s Policy and Russia’s Interests

Abstract

The Black Sea region is an important geopolitical and geostrategic area where the interests of various authors of world politics — both regional and global — intersect. The importance of the region as a transit area of energy resources and an important transport hub attracts the attention of the European Union as well. The EU’s interests in the Black Sea region cover a number of areas: economy, energy transit, security, environmental and climate issues, social and cultural initiatives. Energy and transport flows through the Black Sea region, as well as access to broad markets, are key factors in the EU’s interest in the region. Since the 1990s, the European Union has consistently increased its interest in the Black Sea region. Among the key initiatives in this direction, it is necessary to highlight the “Black Sea Synergy” and the “Eastern Partnership” program, which allow the EU to progressively increase its presence in the region and influence individual countries geographically related to it. The EU’s attention to the region and its policies are in conflict with the foreign policy interests of the Russian Federation in this geographical area.