EU-RUSSIAN RELATIONS: WHAT IS MISSING?

What kind of Russia does the European Union wish to see as its neighbour, and, crucially, on what basis does the EU wish to engage and/or re-engage with Russia? The obstacles to an effective EU-Russia relationship centre on the paradox that the two are close enough neighbours not to be able to ignore each other, yet on the whole neither currently perceives itself to have a pressing need for the other. In particular the EU has failed to elaborate clear objectives and incentives that can overcome this lack of motivation and thus drive serious engagement.