Below is a translation of an interesting article by Marlena Mistrzak published in the Polish magazine Wprost Weekly, which takes a look at the proliferation of fancy soirees in Brussels hosted by representatives sent from Moscow, and the delicate art of influence peddling in the European Union.  What was once the decadence of only Washington

Moscovites in Brussels
By Marlena Mistrzak
Source: Wprost weekly, 17th of January 2010, p. 26

Russia is not a member of the European Union and probably won’t become one for a very long time. Nevertheless you can find its defenders everywhere in Brussels. Polish MEPs (from both PiS [Law and Justice] and PO [Civic Platform] parties) agree that Moscow has exceptional influence, which they jointly try to fight off.