MOSCOW, November 1 (RIA Novosti) — The new European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini is not expected to toughen the anti-Russian sanctions, Paul Furlong, Professor of European Studies of the Department of Politics and International Relations of the Cardiff University, told RIA Novosti Saturday.
"She [Mogherini] will be willing to talk constructively to whomever she has to and will be reluctant to see sanctions extended in duration and certainly not toughened. In simplistic categories, she is a dove not a hawk, probably more so even than [ex-EU Foreign Chief Catherine] Ashton," Furlong stated adding that "she may find however that events and national interest take over".
According to Furlong, Mogherini is "a professional politician with a foreign policy background", whose strengths are "calculation and commitment." Furlong said he was expecting her "to try to create more of a public voice for EU foreign policy than Ashton was able to."
When asked about Mogherini's stance on Russia, considered too soft by some politicians, Furlong said he did not consider the new EU foreign affairs chief to be especially pro-Russian, but stated that these assumptions could be easily explained by Mogherini pursuing Italy's strategic interest in the European Union. And as her new office now does not involve national interest considerations, it could be interesting to follow her new strategy.
On the contrary, the Head of the Department of Political and Social Sciences of the European University Institute Alexander Trechsel has told RIA Novosti that his perception of Mogherini's policy regarding Russia could be less moderate.
"I really do not believe that Federica Mogherini will be more or less moderate vis-à-vis Russia than her former colleagues in the foreign ministries across Europe," Trechsel said.
"The EU and its member states have taken a rather clear and determined position vis-à-vis Russia, urging the latter to respect international law and the principles of the Council of Europe, of which Russia is part, i.e. the respect of human rights, democracy and the rule of law," he added.
Trechsel believes Mogherini could "surprise quite a few observers by being even more active than her predecessor".
On Friday, Mogherini resigned as Italy's Foreign Minister due to her assuming office of the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on Saturday.
In February 2013, she was re-elected from the Emilia-Romagna constituency and headed the Italian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO.
In February 2014, she became Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On August 30, Mogherini was elected High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, a post she will hold from November 1, 2014, to October 31, 2019.
