Differentiated Integration:The Game of Interests between Old and New EU Member States in the Context of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Russia's special military operations against Ukraine has strengthened EU cohesion.However,as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues,the perceived differences between the"New Europe"and the"Old Europe"in the areas of security,energy and trade have increased.Like the"Old Europe",the Central and Eastern European members of the European Union consider it politically correct to be"pro-Ukraine and anti-Russia",but in the actual policymaking process,the Central and Eastern European member states continue to put their own national interests at the forefront of their policies towards Ukraine and Russia.The Russia-Ukraine conflict has heightened the fear of Russia among CEE member states,and in the absence of the EU as a security protector,CEE member states have favored security cooperation under the framework of NATO,reflecting differentiated alternative integration.The Russia-Ukraine conflict has indirectly jeopardized the energy security and economic and trade interests of the member States of Central and Eastern Europe.In the energy sector,the member States of Central and Eastern Europe,represented by Hungary,have sought exemptions from the energy sanctions imposed on Russia;in the area of trade,the member States of Central and Eastern Europe have introduced a unilateral trade policy towards Ukraine.The policies of the CEE member States in the field of energy and trade and economy are characterized by differential internal integration.In order to increase the efficiency of decision-making,the EU's policies in the areas of security,energy,and trade and commerce are often differentiated by exemptions,which strengthens the differentiated alternative integration and differentiated internal integration features of the EU.The continuation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict will lead to a decrease in the coordination between the old and new Europe in terms of policies toward Russia and Ukraine,and a stronger trend toward differentiated integration in the EU,which will further affect the cohesion of the EU in the future.
European UnionRussia-Ukraine ConflictCentral and Eastern European StatesDifferentiated IntegrationDifferentiation of Exemptions
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