EFSPS - Experts - Elena Gnedina

Project

In between Russia and the EU: Ukrainian and Moldovan foreign policies

The project studies the empirical puzzle of Ukrainian and Moldovan ‘multi-vector’ policies or the phenomenon of their simultaneous orientation towards the EU and Russia. It parts away from the traditional interpretation of their foreign policies as influenced by domestic factors, and argues for greater explanatory role of external ones. More specifically, Ukraine’s and Moldova’s lack of foreign policy direction is explained by contradictory inputs from the EU and Russia, presenting different types of expansionism and having competing interests in their ‘shared neighbourhood’. The project advances a set of hypotheses on Ukraine’s and Moldova’s foreign policy output, as a response to the EU normative influence and Russian material pressure. Apart from its theoretical value, the project has policy relevance, as it informs the EU policy-makers on the workings of Ukrainian and Moldovan foreign policies and raises awareness of challenges to the EU external policy in the Eastern neighbourhood.

Expertise

Publications

2011

• Gnedina, Elena / Andrew Wilson: Keeping EU-Ukraine relations on track, Policy paper submitted to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in preparation for the Polish EU Presidency,

2010

• Gnedina, Elena: ‘Moldova eyes EU visa-free travel’ , EUObserver

2009

• Dura, George / Gnedina, Elena: Moldova's 'wannabe democracy' is worth rescuing, CEPS Policy Brief, No. 185, 23 April 2009.
• Gnedina, Elena: EU running on empty in Ukraine, EUObserver
• Gnedina, Elena / Michael Emerson: The Case for a Gas Transit Consortium in Ukraine: A Cost-Benefit Analysis, CEPS Policy Brief
• Gnedina, Elena / Multiple authors: Synergies vs. Spheres of Influence in the Pan-European Space,

2005

• Gnedina, Elena: Success and Failure of the EU Policies in Ukraine and Belarus, Eurojournal.org

CV

Education

• PhD candidate, School of Politics, International Studies and Philosophy, Queen\s University Belfast, UK, September 2006-present

• MA Degree with Distinction in International Relations and European Studies, Outstanding Thesis Award 2004/2005, Central European University (CEU), Budapest (Hungary), 2004-2005

• Political Science Department, Florence State University, Florence (Italy), 2000-2001

• BA Degree with Distinction in History and Theory of International Relations, Ural State University, Ekaterinburg (Russia), 1997-2002

Expertise and Research

• EU external relations with especial focus on Ukraine, Belarus,Moldova and Russia;
• CFSP/ESDP and EU enlargement;
• Domestic and foreign policy of the post-Soviet states;
• Ethnic conflicts on the post-Soviet Space: Transnistria and the Caucasus;
• Theories of international relations and foreign policy; theories of European integration

Professional Experience

• Teaching Assistant on Contemporary European Politics, School of Politics, International Studies and Philosophy, Queen’s University Belfast, from 2 October 2007

• Conference “Security of Energy Supply in the New Europe”, University of Glasgow, 19-20 September 2007, Paper “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Ukrainian Energy Policy”

• GARNET Summer school, “Methodological issues in the Europeanization Studies’, 2-7 July 2007, Paper “Measuring EU Normative Influence: Ukrainian Foreign and Domestic Policy”;

• OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Copenhagen (Denmark), Research Fellow, April – September 2006.

• Centre for Policy Studies, Research Assistant for “Policymaking in Transition Contexts” project, July 2005 – April 2006.

Languages Russian (native), English (excellent), Italian (excellent), Romanian/Moldovan (intermediate)

Other Information