currently Estonian citizens. In Latvia the EU has encouraged the government to improve the procedures for further integration of the Russian-speaking minorities. The Latvian Parliament’s recent approval of granting citizenship to stateless children, an important step in promoting social integration in Latvia, means that key recommendations of the OSCE are being fulfilled. By consolidating democracy and enhancing stability and security in Central and Eastern Europe, enlargement will increase the security of the EU’s eastern neighbors, also benefitting Russia. Geographic proximity, important traditional economic ties, and cultural and religious affinities between acceding members and Russia suggest a closer relationship between Russia and the EU. EU access to CEECs and their strong economic links with Russia can lead to increased trade between the EU and Russia. CEECs are among the main consumers of Russian gas and oil, and their accession will make the EU more dependent on Russian energy. Russia can only benefit from this increased demand. At the same time Moscow is concerned with negative consequences of eastward expansion and wants a voice in determining the pace and pattern of any future expansion by the European Union. Such demands will decrease the expansion process. Considering that many present EU countries oppose any enlargement in the near future, Moscow can exploit these sentiments in the hopes of gaining political and economic benefits. Speaking in Paris on August 25, 1999, Russian Minister Alexandr Liv*censored*s said that Russia does not oppose the growth of the European Union but wants to ensure that the process will “not harm the interests of Russia.” Russia must attempt to prevent negative economic side-effects of EU eastward expansion while promoting its own integration into the European economic network. At present several al...
