ABSTRACT
The situation with legal approximation between Russia and the European Union is extremely controversial. On the one hand, sustainable interaction between economic and business actors in the EU and Russia encourages gradual approximation of the Russian legal system with the EU acquis. On the other hand, the Russian course of legal harmonisation has always been inert and sporadic. Russia prefers to use the so-called ‘pragmatic approach’ in approximation whereby its domestic legislation adopts only those rules and standards from the EU acquis that are pertinent to Russian interests. This chapter evaluates the legal approximation process in EU–Russia relations through the prism of its historical background and practical implementation. First, attention is paid to the theoretical and practical background regarding legal approximation in Russia. The article then moves on to the practice of legal approximation and the related instruments and experience. Finally, the chapter examines the specifics of the approximation of Russian law with EU rules and standards and delivers some recommendations for the future.
