摘要：Mikhail Gorbachev, who came to power in the USSR in 1985, launched a wide-ranging reform program aimed, on the one hand, at democratizing and liberalizing the Soviet system in a variety of scenarios and, on the other, at improving relations with the European Community (EC). The EC leaders were initially wary of the «new thinking» promoted by Gorbachev, believing that his discourse was just one more on the list of the CPSU’s propaganda strategies. However, the implementation of innovative measures, accompanied by a frank readiness for dialogue and negotiation on key issues such as the arms race and human rights, gradually convinced the EC leaders of the sincerity of Gorbachev’s approach. Focusing on the period 1985-1988, this paper aims to analyze how the Community viewed the policies developed by the new Soviet leader and received his proposals for rapprochement.
关键词：European Community;Soviet Union;Mikhail Gorbachev;Perestroika;European Common Home;Cold War;New Thinking
