THE RUSSIAN POSITION

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Russia reached a record $94 billion in 2013, a leap of 83 percent on the year before according to a United Nations report. Russia follows the US and China as the third most attractive country for investors. The Global FDI research published by the UNCTAD – the UN agency responsible for international trade and development – has Russia jumping 6 places from its 9th spot in 2012. The shift was primarily caused by the UK’s BP taking an 18.5 percent stake in Rosneft as part of Rosneft's $57 billion acquisition of TNK-BP.

Until recently, the image of funds flowing between the Russian Federation and Germany was dominated by an active engagement of German companies on the Russian market. However, this perception has changed during the last few years, and rightly so as the public has become aware of a steadily increasing number of Russian companies involved in Germany. According to OECD statistics direct investments of Russian companies in Germany have increased fivefold – from € 567 million to € 2.9 billion – in the last decade alone (2000 to 2010).

European member states have agreed the wording of sanctions on Russia, including travel restrictions and asset freezes against those responsible for violating the sovereignty of Ukraine. The measures are being coordinated with the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey and Japan, in an effort to ensure the sanctions net is as tight and effective as possible.

Alors que la question de l’influence française au Parlement européen interpelle à moins de 100 jours des élections européennes, la loi sur le non-cumul des mandats ne s’appliquera qu’à partir de 2019 pour les parlementaires européens. Pour les eurodéputés, la loi sur le non-cumul des mandats entrera en vigueur le 31 mars 2017, mais ne sera applicable qu’à partir des élections européennes qui se tiendront après cette date, soit celles de 2019.

Crimea became part of Ukraine only in 1954 (60 years ago). Crimea was historically part of Russia, and Nikita Khrushchev gave it to Ukraine in a gesture that mystified some people. Crimea hasn't always been part of Ukraine. Here's a quick rundown of what's happened in the region since the Ottoman Empire used the peninsula as a hub for slave trade.

The political parts of the Association Agreement (AA) with Ukraine are likely to be signed at the next EU summit on 20-21 March 2014.  

The Association Agreement will constitute a new stage in the development of EU-Ukraine contractual relations, aiming at political and economic association and leaving open the way for further progressive developments. The AA provides for a shared commitment to a close and lasting relationship, based on common values, in particular full respect for democratic principles, rule of law, good governance, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The claim that the Crimean referendum violates international law is undercut by the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Kosovo’s Declaration of Independence. In that opinion, the ICJ found (among other things) that general international law does not prohibit unilateral declarations of independence. The authors of the “unilateral” declaration of independence did not consult Serbian authorities (much less get its consent). Like the declaration of independence, the referendum does not by itself “secede” Crimea from Ukraine under international law.

Here below is an article written by Dmitry Tamoikin. Dmitry Tamoikin is both a Canadian citizen since 1996 and a Russian citizen by birth and blood. Furthermore, his grandmother is Ukrainian which makes him ¼ Ukrainian as well. He was  born in Sevastopol, Crimea where he  lived there for a long time and has a desire to live there again. Today he says he has two places that he can honestly call home, they are: Halifax, Nova Scotia and Sevastopol, Crimea.

The Eastern Partnership (EaP) was initiated by Poland and Sweden and was adopted as an eastern dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) in 2009. It comprises six post-Soviet states, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The initiative was designed to supplement the ENP and enable political and economic integration without the promise of enlargement.