Ukrainian question remains unanswered
The European Commission adopted a document setting out a new framework for relations over the coming decade with Russia, the “Western new independent states” (meaning Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus), and the Southern Mediterranean. The document repeatedly states that the issue is not EU membership by these countries during the term of its operation. Instead, it proclaims as major goal developing a zone of prosperity and a friendly neighborhood, a “ring of friends” with whom the EU enjoys close, peaceful, and cooperative relations. The document suggests that “in return for concrete progress demonstrating shared values and effective implementation of political, economic, and institutional reforms, all the neighboring countries should be offered the prospect of a stake in the EU’s internal market.” Simultaneously, it promises to implement the four basic freedoms: the free movement of persons, goods, services, and capital. “Instead of trying to establish new dividing lines, deeper integration between the EU and the ring of friends will accelerate our mutual political, economic, and cultural dynamism,” European Commission President Romano Prodi, who had earlier stated that Ukraine should not count on EU membership, said at the document’s presentation. External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten noted, “Over the past decade, the Union’s most successful foreign policy instrument has undeniably been the promise of EU membership. This is not sustainable. For the coming decade, we need to find new ways to export the stability, security, and prosperity we have created within the enlarged EU. We should begin by agreeing on a clearer vision for relations with our neighbors.” Recall that about a year ago, by the offer from Great Britain and Sweden, the EU started working out its Wider Europe concept, or “New Neighbor Initiative.” Primarily the concept was scheduled for presentation in late September, but later the terms were gradually put off. As The Day was told at Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the new EU document has already come to the ministry and is now being considered, but one can speak about its evaluation only after the examination process is over (the document consists of 26 pages). The Day’s sources, senior diplomats, also said that the draft existing last Monday and the final version have a significant difference in that the latter does not mention prospects for the “new neighbors” membership in the EU, while the draft read that such prospect is not ruled out. Thus, the EU did not answer the major question posed by Kyiv. At the same time there are many positive aspects in the document. So far, Kyiv might express a certain disappointment along with expectations for a new quality of the relationship.
The means for the EU new policy towards its new neighbors is to be the extension of the internal market and regulatory structures, extension of the internal market and regulatory structures, preferential trade relations and market opening, perspectives for legal migration and movement of persons, intensified cooperation to prevent and combat common security threats, greater EU political involvement in conflict prevention and crisis management, greater efforts to promote human rights, along with further cultural cooperation and enhanced mutual understanding. The document also speaks about integration into transport, energy, and telecommunications networks and the European research area, new instruments for investment promotion and protection, support for integration into the global trading system, enhanced assistance better tailored to needs, and finding new sources of financing.
The European Commission is to develop individual Membership Action Plans for each country (apparently, according to the same model on which Ukraine’s plan for cooperation in the fields of justice and internal affairs is based). It will implement the plans by which the progress achieved will be measured. The document also envisions an opportunity for supplementing the existing agreements on partnership and cooperation or association (signed by the Mediterranean countries).
President Kuchma and Foreign Minister Zlenko have recently stated during their respective visits to Slovakia and Germany that Kyiv expects from the EU a clearer view on its relations with Ukraine. Ukrainian leaders also asserted that a certain dissatisfaction exists with the fact that all the EU can offer Ukraine is a rather vague status of a neighbor. At the latest international conferences in Wilton Park (Great Britain) in January and in Warsaw in February it was indicated that the EU might not offer Ukraine EU membership but it has to state clearly that this is not ruled out as Ukraine achieves necessary criteria. Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski in his recent message to the Person of the Year action has shared his view on Ukraine’s future in the EU. Thus, the document adopted in Brussels doesn’t quite answer Ukraine’s expectations. Simultaneously, as The Day was told by a diplomat, one can always hope for quantity to transform into quality. So far the quantitative indicators more or less satisfy the Ukrainian diplomatic corps, as well as the fact that relationships should be based on a differentiated approach to each country, working out a new basic concept for technical aid (using in part the PHARE instruments), and involving the European Investment Bank in work here.
The EU has not yet given an answer awaited by Kyiv on the future development of the relations. Perhaps the reason is that today the union is preoccupied with the problems of its own enlargement and institutional reforms and lacks the financial and other resources to work with Ukraine on the level it works, say, with Poland. Moreover, contemporary Ukraine lacks any opportunity to speak about its preparedness to enter the EU. In any case, there are some intermediate distinctions: we have approximately a decade to bolster ourselves with irrefutable arguments.
(See also page DAY AFTER DAY)
