THE RUSSIA-EU PERSPECTIVE: NATIONAL SECURITY AND COUNTERTERRORISM FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE

Abstract

Statistics have proven that both the European Union (EU) and the Russian Federation (Russia) suffer from terrorism in its current form. Hence intensifying partnerships to combat terrorism would be a good idea. This essay envisages illustrating a common base for cooperation in the fight against terrorism despite of some general differences in policy and structure between the EU and Russia. According to the author there are five fundamental issues which ask for more attention in the EU-Russia dialogue on Freedom, Justice and Security. Firstly, statistics prove that Europe (EU and Russia) are impacted by modern terrorism. Secondly, Russias experience in counterterrorism is crucial. Thirdly, the scale freedom and human rights versus security has not the same ratio in the EU and in Russia.Fourthly, the concept sovereignty is differently filled in by the EU, the EU Member States and Russia. Fifthly,there is the debate between integration versus social exclusion, and solidarity versus strong governmental intervention. By highlighting these differences in attitudes, the objective becomes clear that possibly the EU could learn things from Russia, as one of the key states to have experience in counterterrorism. Although the EU and Russia experience different forms and problems of terrorism and the roots of West-European terrorism cannot be traced back to the same reasons why Russia suffered terror attacks, it does not invalidate that they could foster cooperation.