CONCEPTUAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF STUDYING THE PECULIARITIES OF RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND EUROPEAN UNION

Abstract

In the first half of XXI century, Russia and European Union (EU) became one of the most influential global players, expanding their relations in various spheres: economy, politics, culture, education, science, etc. Relations with European Union occupy a special place in the formation of Russia's external relations system. Formal starting point of mutually beneficial relations between Russia and EU was Agreement on trade, commercial and economic cooperation, signed by Soviet Russia in 1989, which evolved into partnership and cooperation Agreement (PCA) after the collapse of USSR, and became a legally binding regulatory element in expansion and strengthening of relations between Russia and EU, which also depended on a fairly wide range of internal and external factors. In modern conditions, Russian relations with EU are characterized by contradictions and are in a state of crisis, aggravated by differences in political views and fierce competition in economic sphere. Article examines the conceptual basis of international economic and political relations, theoretical and methodological aspects of historical development of Russia and EU. Empirical analysis of evolution of cooperation between these global actors in the world economic system is carried out.