The evolution of democracy in the EU’s eastern neighbor Russia is retarded and still struggling to gain traction in the face of stubborn resistance. The lack of a functioning civil society, rule of law, true market economy, pluralism, respect for human rights, and media freedom are in direct contrast to European Union policies. Questions of EU-Russia relations in areas of energy security, immigration, criminal enterprise, terrorism, and weapons of mass destruction all pose serious threats to regional stability and subsequent European security. United States foreign policy is an important actor in this sphere, using instruments such as the venerable Cold War era Radio Free Europe to project its values and interests. But therein lies the problem. Radio Free Europe is no longer an effective tool in Russia, and through changing circumstances has become a hindrance to EU-Russian relations. Using empirical methodology, this research work will seek to confirm of refute the hypothesis by asking the simple yet complex question: Is Radio Free Europe a hindrance to EU-Russia relations? RESEARCH MATERIALS 1. Sending Cross-Border Static: on the Fate of Radio Free Europe and the Influence of International Broadcasting. (an interview with former chair of the Board ... from: Journal of International Affairs by Sudarsan V. Raghavan, Stephen S. Johnson, and Kristi K. Bahrenburg (Digital - Jul 28, 2005) 2. Radio Free Europe's Impact on the Kremlin in the Hungarian crisis of 1956: three hypotheses.(introduction in French): An article from: Canadian Journal of History by Johanna Granville (Digital - Jul 14, 2006) 3. Radio Free Europe as Unofficial Instrument of American Foreign Policy by Benno Signitzer (Unknown Binding - 1973) 4. Perspectives on EU-Russia Relations (Europe and the Nation State) by Debra Johnson (Hardcover - Feb15, 2005) 5. Understanding Conflict between Russia and the EU: The Limits of Integration (Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies) by Sergei Prozorov (Hardcover – Sep 4, 2006)