ABSTRACT
For the European Union (EU), the enlargement process and the accompanying extension of its borders eastward creates a poignant dilemma: how to balance the needs of internal security while simultaneously forming cooperative relationships with non-EU members to tackle issues of common concern. The EU's attempts to address the conundrum through the general initiative of 'Wider Europe – Neighbourhood' and, specifically, its 'Friendly Schengen Border' policy have produced mixed results. For example, the new EU–Russian border illustrates the difficulties of creating a border that fulfils both communication and barrier functions. EU enlargement has implications not only for EU–Russian relations and border management, but also for Russia's relations with neighbouring non-EU states. The issue of illegal migration and human trafficking illustrates this dual character of EU relations with Russia. The EU's new East European neighbours have been drawn into a reconsideration of a variety of border issues as the new EU members take measures to meet Schengen requirements.
