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Russia and EU should “stick together, like vodka and caviar”
Published: 17 September, 2009, 10:43
Russia and the EU should remain close allies. They share a common history and have a similar spirit, says the former head of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, who spoke to RT’s Sophie Shevardnadze.
Despite the rhetoric that has indicated divisions between Russia and the EU in recent years, the reality is that mutually beneficial trade has continued. Whilst some in the new member states of the EU are keen to talk up a fight, "Old Europe" has no interest in this and sees more opportunities for cooperation and trade.
In theory the EU and Russia have a huge amount to gain from working together - the EU can help some of Russia's problems Russia can help some of the EU's problems. I'm doubtful such cooperation is doable politically, however. A pity.
Old Europe is what we need stick to, not the EU, Germany,France,Italy,Spain .. is our immediate future through bilateral ties. The EU has a long way to go in creating a unified European federation. Now it is just an aggregation containing a three tier hierarchy - Old europe, Old eastern Europe inside but not Europeans and Old eastern Europe - they are in but what do we do with them. The EU realise it will take years and years to sort this out, when they do, the EU will probably have collapsed under its own weight. So the route for Russia must be, work with Old Europe and deal with the EU as an administartion in flux, with an uncertain future. This is the only practical way to move forward.