EU Trade Barriers Regulation - An 'Insurance Policy' for European Union Companies in Accessing the Russian Market

Abstract: This thesis discusses the potentials of application of the EU Trade Barriers Regulation (TBR) to EU-Russia trade relations. In light of the forthcoming and long-awaited Russia's WTO accession (expected to be completed in mid-2012), the theoretical analysis suggests that the TBR would become functional and useful for EU companies in tackling obstacles to trade on the Russian market. Also, this kind of approach reveals issues, for instance, related to private party access to international trade law, direct effect of WTO law in EU legal order and EU external economic competences. Additionally, an opinion is provided with regard to the international relations generally, including the opposition of the West and the East.