ИСТИНА

For the last two decades Russia and the EU became interdependent in many areas, trade grew, flow of people and services intensified, Russian economic interests became widely represented in the EU member states, while European businesses integrated deeply into the Russian economy. Diplomacy is just one channel among others used to maintain these interdependencies. Russian interest groups have been constantly learning how European policymaking works, using lobbying as an instrument of direct and indirect influence. Meanwhile, European interest groups got used to deal with Russian highly centralized system where government plays a key role in formulating its domestic and foreign policies. Fusion of business and government often makes it difficult for Russian interest groups, foremost business, to exercise influence abroad independently and for European interest groups operating in Russia to understand what are the right access points, but it’s evident that diplomacy and lobbying are highly intertwined. Russian economic model, which almost totally relies on commodities exports, leads to creation of “state - big business” coalition. Its lobbying efforts, mostly carried through GR offices, advisory boards and separate entrepreneurs, are predominantly aimed at two major policy areas: energy and sanctions. Russia’s system of international lobbying creates a second layer of its relations with the EU and whereas diplomacy and other ways of finding common grounds fail, lobbying, despite its controversies, helps to preserve Russian official and private interests. However, this system has a limited potential, because it remains elitist and doesn’t promote deeper integration.