Sanctions

New Russian Immigration to the EU: The Case of the Baltic States, Finland, Germany & Poland

The political atmosphere in Russia, as well as the September 2022 mobilisation call for military service, made thousands of Russians leave their home country. Although a vast majority of them have settled in post-Soviet countries, a noticeable portion has also taken up residence in EU countries. A recent couple of years have seen significant expert interest in new Russian immigration, so there is no shortage of publications on the phenomenon. However, many of these analyses suffer from substantial flaws.

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The Practice, Promise and Peril of EU Lawfare

Power generates law and its interpretation, irrespective of whether it serves the cause of international justice. Despite its many shortcomings, the rules-based international order (RBIO) tries to advance that cause. But as a concept, the RBIO is now being rejected by China, Russia and parts of the so-called “Global South” for what they claim is the Western hegemonism and liberal values that underpin it.

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The Sanctions Regime on Russia: A Turning Point for the EU

Observers are debating whether the robust sanctions packages introduced by the EU in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine are an effective tool to halt aggression. Although this looks unlikely, the question detracts from the fact that the sanctions operation is a turning point in EU policy with lasting repercussions for the Union’s role in the new security reality.

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