Seventy years ago today, the Foreign Minsters of Russia and Germany singed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact which neutralised Russia at the start of World War II. According to Radio Free Europe the pact “gave Germany a free hand to attack Western Europe without having to fear a war on two fronts. In return, its secret protocol consigned Finland, Estonia, Latvia, the Romanian territory of Bessarabia, and a little later Lithuania, to the Soviet Union’s sphere of influence. Poland was partitioned between Germany and the USSR.” For these people, as Historian Orlando Figges says, “the pact began the reign of terror, mass deportations, slavery and murder”. Though the Pact was broken with the invasion of the USSR by Germany in 1941, it is notable that except for Poland and Finland, these territories remained part of the USSR until 1989. Until this year the USSR even denied the existence of the shameful secret protocol which divided these  independent democratic countries between the 2 powers.

The Pact is still painfully relevant. As Figges says the Pact remains “a constant thorn in Russia’s relations with neighbouring European states”, as Russia has shown repeatedly, and most recently in Georgia & Ukraine, that the Soviet notion of sphere of influence is very much alive in Russia’s foreign policy.

Last April the European Parliament called for “the proclamation of 23 August as a Europe-wide Remembrance Day for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, to be commemorated with dignity and impartiality”. For those European countries who still deal with the effects of totalitarianism on their country and their families, the 23 of August is a day that will remain in their hearts for all the wrong reasons.

Leonhard Lapin: Molotov-Ribbentrop - The uneasy alliance of hammer & sickle and swastika

The EU is having another busy August in Foreign policy, traditionally the month in which the EU normally all but shuts down (to the chagrin of many). Last August 6th, Russia turned its conflict with Georgia very hot when it invaded the internationally recognised Georgian territories of South Ossetia & Abkhazia. The EU and the world was in shock, Alexander Stubb - the very cool Finnish Foreign Minister admits that he had to cut his holidays “a few days short” as he went to play a decisive role in the ceasefire that has mantained an uneasy peace in the region.  Stubb notes in his Blog post from Saturday that “the possibility of renewed escalation of the crisis has caused concern” and indeed today the EU expressed its “concern” at the visit of Prime Minister Putin to Abkhaza, a region Russia now recognises as independent. Stubb suggests a number of actions that the EU can take to keep peace in the Region, manly focusing on support to Georgia including a strengthened partnersip and support for the ceasefire. What he doesn’t (and probably can’t) say is that effective containment of Russia is a necessary part of this also, but how to contain such a powerful neighbour - the EU s still, unfortunately, feeling its way.

As if this was not enough action, in addition to the above, the EU this week has already tightened travel-bans on those involved in the sentencing of Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi, condemned a deadly suicide bombing in the southern Russian republic of Ingushetia, been called to support monitoring of Isaeli nukes by the Arab League and signalled that it will impost harsher sanctions against Iran.

All this suggests that the newly strengthened (under the yet-to-be-approved Lisbon Treaty) High Representative for Foreign Policy will have plenty of work as will the newly created (under the same Treaty) President of the European Council will have plenty of work when appointed. But even then, I doubt they will resist the temptation to tempt fate and go on holidays next August - just as long as they keep their PDA on!

Some European Swimming Pools are likely to be empty this summer as the EU's foreign policy engagement leads to some unforeseen actions

On 5th June, voters from 27 EU countries will begin voting on who they wish to represent them in the European Parliament, it is the largest number of countries ever to vote for the only democratically elected transnational Institution in the world . Global Post have a very interesting Article on why the elections matter. The EU Observer, meanwhile, update us on the state of play 18 days before the election. There’s an interesting update re. the candidacy of Elena Basescu (below), the former-model daughter of the Romanian President who was originally head of his party’s list for the European Parliament. Following public outcry she had to withdraw from the list to make way for (what she called) “intellectuals”. She is now running as an independent, but EU Observer reports her as saying “”Yes, I want to win, although I realize I might be aiming too high now.” However, given the long line of entertainers, former models and singers that have gone on to become MEPs, I wouldn’t discount her chances just yet!

 Romanian candidate for the European Parliament, Elena Bbasescu: she dreams of Europe.

On Friday, the European Union  will mark the 5th anniversary of the “Big Bang” enlargement, when 15 mainly Western European Members were joined by 10 Central & Eastern European members in the EU. 

5 years on many historical issues remain that have tended to divide these countries. Slovenia is currently blocking the entry of Croatia to the EU, due to a dispute dating from the end of Yugoslavia after the Cold War. Possible future member of the EU, Serbia, refuses still to recognise the independence of Kosovo, a policy that may derail its membership prospects. On the other hand, Sebia’s former partner, Montenegro, is moving ahead and is likely to begin negotiations on membership soon. Estonia’s difficulties in living with its significant Russian minority polulation mean that many of them may not get to vote in forthcoming European Elections. Meanwhile, the EU’s dissiculties with Russia have intensified, not eased, with the admission of countries that were formerly under the control of Europe’s domineering Eastern neighbour. Some in the CEE are more favouribly disposed toward Russia than others, however Russia’s actions this winter in shutting off gas supplies to Central & Eastern Europe won them no friends. There is a fascinating story in this week’s Foreign Policy magazine, about the attempted prosecution of a Lithuanian Jewish partisan from WWII which shows how personal and tragic these difficulties are and how historic the divisions are.

In his Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance speech, John Hume, the architect of the Northern Ireland peace process described the European Union as “the best example in the history of the world of conflict resolution“. It would be paternalistic to say that the EU will eventually solve these problems, many are deeply person and involve many complex and intractable issues. However, the role that the EU plays in bringing States together and encouraging partnership will undoubtedly help Central & Eastern Europe exorcise its many and painful ghosts.

“The 15 welcome the 10″, five years ago the EU enlarged to 25 Member-States.