Crisis response, path dependence, and the joint decision trap: the EU’s eastern and Russia policies after the Ukraine crisis

Abstract

The outbreak of the Ukraine crisis has been widely seen as heralding a critical change in relations between the European Union (EU) and Russia. Both path dependence and the joint decision trap have influenced EU responses to the crisis in terms of its broader policy toward Russia, the Eastern Partnership, and energy policy. The nature of the EU's response has involved a combination of sustained crisis response and incremental change, reflecting relative continuity in the underlying principles governing the approach combined with immediate crisis response measures. The EU's approach reflects elements of both conflict and cooperation in the relationship.