http://russiancouncil.

ru/en/analytics-and-comments/analytics/hybrid-cooperation-a-new-
model-for-russia-eu-relations/

Hybrid Cooperation: A New Model for Russia-EU Relations

Russias ailments are chronic and frequently latent, ripening for many years, if not
decades. Europes concerns, in the meanwhile, escalated from chronic to acute last year.
The EU is beginning to respond to its systemic ailments, while problems are only
growing in the United States. These seemingly incongruous processes both show that on the
whole, the postmodern world is better able to stand up to change and resist destabilization
than some might have expected six months ago. Russia could facilitate EU transformation in
a direction favorable to Russias own interests, provided that it achieves at least some
progress on Ukraine, an issue that is critical for Russia-EU relations.
One mutually acceptable model for relations between Russia and the EU is the so-
called hybrid relations model.
The old model of geopolitical confrontation between East and West (the Cold War
model) plays the role of an internal combustion engine (ICE).
The system of global, regional, and sub-regional regimes that preserve and expand
common spaces for Russia and Europe, or for Eurasia and the Euro-Atlantic, could serve
as such a new motor.
The regimes model is based on horizontal cooperation by interested parties, which
can include non-state players such as regions, municipalities, private companies, civic
institutions, international organizations, and transborder movements. This greatly increases
the number of potential stakeholders interested in the development of cooperation, and
creates a critical mass for a subsequent breakthrough.