In a report published on Thursday 22 May, the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) concluded that “unpowering Russia is both urgent and feasible”, explaining that the EU was far from powerless in the face of Russian hostility, but that it was under-exploiting its capacity to do so.
“The EU has diplomatic reach, economic weight, security tools and a track record of seeking partnerships (...). But it must use these assets with purpose and strategic intent” to weaken Russia, stresses the report by this EU agency.
The EUISS states that the EU should increase the cost to Russia of its harming the EU and step up economic pressure. This means escalating the fight against the ‘shadow fleet’, taking a more intelligent approach to deterrence and red lines, and increasing pressure on Russia through the EU’s relations with China, notably by threatening to freeze exports of dual-use items to China and broaden investment screening mechanisms.
According to the institute, the EU must also win ‘the battle of narratives’. “The EU needs a real step change in its strategic communications”, says the report, adding that this includes a shift to “pre-bunking” to avoid remaining on the defensive. We also need to combat hybrid threats and the weaponisation of narratives.
Finally, it is necessary to strengthen the EU’s regional engagement and leverage global partnerships.
See the report: https://aeur.eu/f/gzn (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)