|
|
International ProgramThe Enlarged EU and Ukraine: New Relations |
contact:
The project is financed by the Stefan Batory Foundation (Warsaw), International Rennaissance Foundation (Kyiv), Open Society Institute (Budapest) and has been supported by the Poland-America-Ukraine Cooperation Initiative (PAUCI), financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). |
|
|
||
Interview with Andriy DerkachMP of Ukraine, a chairman of association "To Europe together with Russia"
What means Ukraine's European choice for you?Globalisation of world's economy, challenges of the present — either man-caused threats or international terrorism, impartially need consolidation of efforts and carrying out of coordinated international policy. For Ukraine, as a European state, European integration is of the most importance. EU is and effective implement of continental coordination, and Ukraine's participation in all its institutions meets national interests. This is a real Ukraine's European choice — without empty declarations and political demagogy. While conducting Euro-integral policy Ukraine remains sovereign; EU isn't an analogue of "melting-out tank": each of its members delegates only authorities obligatory for conducting of coordinated policy, adapting inner legislation to worked out European standards. For Ukraine as a neutral state (and isn't EU member) this way is the most optimal. At the same time I'd like to mention about the problem of strategic partnership between Ukraine and European countries. It's impossible and unreal to have almost all states of the continent as strategic partners. If you are in one city and need to get to another city, there is no sense to take 40 men to be your guides. It's enough to take two or three people who really can help you. If Russia more and more actively and purposefully builds geopolitical ties with Germany, we should join this geo-strategic alliance that more and more clearly becomes a core of the continent. Our relations with France, Germany and, for instance, with Portugal can't be equal. It's unreal, and nobody needs it. Ukraine should choose providers on the way to Euro-integration; denote them clearly and tell about them aloud. And recently there have been essential positive progress in this direction. International policy is rather strict thing, where rhetoric can't substitute real actions, especially of economical character. Reasons and obstacles of Ukraine's participation in the processes of European integration?Among many political scientists there is a firm conviction that in united Europe stop working regularities of traditional geopolitics that is considered by them to be a rudiment of era of block opposition. In their opinion, with use of functioning scheme of Euro-integration the independent foreign policy of individual states with their national interests becomes a thing of the past. This conception regards European integration as a process of negation of national sovereignties and further existence of the real national state system. In my opinion, it is the same as failed ideology of worldwide communist revolution, but it's painted in other colours. Gaining strength in European countries <<Euro-scepticism>>, which utmost flow denies integration, generates this approach. In fact, Euro-integration in no way contradicts reservation of national sovereignty and doesn't cancel historically developed understanding of national sovereignties. These processes are not alternative, but complementary. While solving those problems where all-European institutions can't act effectively, the main role passes on to continental interstate unions of countries possessing the greatest potential. The only possible variant of such continental alliance is the axis Berlin-Kyiv-Moscow. A number of European countries, first of all Poland and France, as well as "orthodox zone" on the Balkans where Greece has got leading positions, will closely adjoin this axis. This scheme issues not from the theory, but from economical, political and mental realities of the continent. The state's selection of allies and partners isn't accidental, is it? As a rule, they are defined by geographic position and historical development of the state. But on the foreground is frequently the human factor connected with position of a definite part of authoritative elite trying to assume its individual interests as a basis of national interests (which are not necessarily conterminous with national ones) or strange to life ideological thoughts. Ukraine is a continental state in the middle of Europe, and its economical and political interests are closely connected with Europe. And first of all with Russia and Germany, relations between which, as was mentioned above, acquire a character of strategic partnership. The task of domestic politicians is to put this axiom in practice, because without practical actions formation of Ukraine as a developed European country is impossible. What is, in your opinion, the contribution of your country in Europe's future; and what is Ukraine's role (real and desirable) in European political, economical and social processes?One can't but notices that EU isn't able to solve by its own strength all the problems that the continent faces. Like every international organization at all times, beginning with successfully ceased the League of Nations, it is disposed to excessive bureaucratism, frequent predominance of minor questions, and not quite quick response and consecution in solution of the most important problems. At any internal alignments of forces among the staff and direction of international organization there isn't direct responsibility before citizens for taking and solution of decisions. Remaining realists, we should be aware, that one can't change anything here; the most of reforms are knowingly doomed for a failure. International organization, likewise living organisms, exist and develop in accordance with their own laws, and there's a limit to their institutional reorganization. At the same time, mutual attraction between Russia and Ukraine from the one hand, and Germany from the other hand originates from epoch of napoleon wars. Russia and Prussia were most interested in liquidation of imposing of will of one superstate with a messianic complex to the continent; and profitability of trade operations gave additional activity to their cooperation. Otto von Bismark, a father of German unanimity, continued development of this tradition. Under Bismark the main biding strings of Russian-German partnership finally determined: mutual interest in stability on the continent, non-admission of imposing to it a will of the Third countries, mutually beneficial outlets and common economical complementarity. "An iron chancellor" was aware that one-sided Germany's orientation towards Western Europe can't be enough; continental stability will be impossible without cooperation with the East. The situation developed after disintegration of Soviet Union and appearance of independent Russia and Ukraine, made precepts of continental cooperation more actual, having connected together historical facts with present-day events. Geopolitical axis Berlin — Kyiv — Moscow providing continent with stable development and security, moves more clearly from the sphere of abstract thoughts to today's politics. Continental axis allows realize a number of tasks vital for EU stable development. It concerns both economical problems and political security. Interaction of Organisation of Regional Integration and EU through Russia and Ukraine — on the one hand, and Germany — on the other hand, actually means creation of the one continental self-sufficient market, which meets interests of all the states-members of these organizations. In my opinion, this is the best Ukraine's contribution in future of united Europe. Today's EU expansion and its influence on Ukraine.EU expansion for Ukraine's economy will have both positive and negative consequences. EU joining of the "first wave" countries and, accordingly, acceptance by them of Euro-standards in technological and social spheres will result in increase of manufacturing cost, and there will start the process of manufacture movement to the third countries. For Ukraine, which has highly professional and cheaper than in EU manpower, this creates certain opportunities, and one should use them in a right way. On the other hand, the opportunities of export of Ukrainian production will be more limited, both due to Euro-standards, and due to common policy of EU states on defence of their domestic markets. It won't, of course, become an economical catastrophe, as there are huge markets of the states joining the Organization of Regional Integration, but it will bring about necessity of serious reorganizing of production pattern. The role of neighbouring countries, which soon must become EU members (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia), in realization of Ukraine's European choice.Today rather correct construction of countries-providers starts to be developed in foreign policy of Ukraine. In Asia these are Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, which for us are a passage to the Middle and Far East. In Europe — Poland, Germany and also Russia that anyhow has serious authority in EU. The fact, that our provider — Poland — joined EU will have positive consequences for Ukraine, as possibilities of our influence in EU will considerably increase. We should add to it an appreciable integral effect from development of frontier cooperation with countries-candidates into EU. This is much promoted by creation of special economical zones in frontier areas. This interaction makes easier further rapprochement and effectiveness of integration of economical systems. When these countries become full EU members, it will be of their economical interests to carry out a policy of rapprochement of EU and Ukraine. An effective way of Ukraine towards European structures: independently or along with Russia?Beyond geopolitical scheme "to Europe along with Russia" any project of united and stable Europe will be wittingly defective. Any lasting union of European states is impossible without Russia and Ukraine that are traditionally integral element of continent's safety. Therefore appearance of doctrine "to Europe along with Russia" became a serious historical stage not only for Ukraine, but for establishment process of united Europe on the whole, and formation of the common continental economic-political space. Realization of this doctrine provides, on the one hand, EU geo-strategic stability and effective functioning, on the other hand — stepwise and organic entering of Ukraine and Russia into EU economical and political structures. Historical interconnectivity of Ukraine and Russia's interests is postulational; both states belong to one East-Slavic orthodox cultural type that is a polyphonic component of European mega-civilization. If one considers only economical aspects of two-sided cooperation, the interlacing of economies is a colonial heritage by no means (as it see quasi-politicians suffering from complex of national inferiority), it is an impartial necessity proved by the time. Break of economical ties with Russia will be a state catastrophe for Ukraine, as it is theoretically impossible to substitute them. One can't but see it; on the other hand one may not want to see it. Without timed with Russia policy of Euro-integration, Ukraine's entering into EU is unreal, and one should realize it precisely. The problems of visas and migration from Ukraine to EU.It is obvious, that EU expansion will entail introduction of visa regime by the countries adjoining Ukraine. Boundary control and struggle against illegal migration will be intensified. All this will inevitably affect interests of millions of our compatriots. >From this point of view the questions concerning regulation of labour migration and guarantee of social protection of Ukraine's citizens are especially urgent. European standards of regulation of this sphere will limit opportunities of job placement for Ukraine's citizens in EU countries. Of course, today we have to mention, that a considerable part of Ukrainian labour migrants are illegal aliens. But toughening of prohibitive measures on the part of EU states won't solve this problem. Ukraine is unlikely to be able to solve the problems of unemployment and low standard of living in its territory in the nearest time. Shadow sector of EU economy provides demand for illegal migrants' services, and this means, that natives of Ukraine will meet this demand. The problem of labour migration needs complex approach with direct participation of EU and states-candidates. A number of measures should be taken — beginning with policy (financed by EU) of creation of workplaces in Ukraine, and finishing with increase of quotes for legalization of labour migratory streams. In particular, in the foreseeable future I consider expedient the conclusion of agreement between Ukraine and EU about labour migration and social protection of Ukrainian labour immigrants abroad. What would you like to change in the policy of EU concerning Ukraine?EU requirements are equal for all candidates for entrance. And one shouldn't fruitlessly carp, but do everything necessary to make Ukraine meet Euro-standards. It's ridiculous for Ukraine to try to dictate its requirements to EU. We should have declined "a soviet syndrome" long ago, and realized, that Ukraine isn't the Soviet Union, which statement about anything, or action determined the world policy. Ukrainian state isn't a subject, but object of international relations, and we should derive benefit from this. We have time and possibilities to concentrate on solution of a number of domestic problems. Today's state and outlook of European business in Ukraine, and Ukrainian business in EU.It was mentioned above, what consequences for Ukraine will have EU expansion. For domestic business it will cause strengthening of the competition between Ukrainian and European manufacturers, and necessity of more active actions in Eurasian economical area. Besides, acceptance of new members will considerably increase volume of trade operations between EU and Ukraine. And this, in its turn, will result in strengthening of independence of Ukraine's economical state from processes occurring in EU. Thus, additional preconditions for more intensive interaction with EU, that can essentially facilitate the process of rapprochement of positions, are created. Common and differences between Ukraine and "western culture". Is Ukraine a part of the Western World?To start with, Ukraine is an orthodox state. All Ukrainian statehood and culture had been build, and the mentality of our nation had been formed on the basis of faith. In this quality Ukraine identifies itself as part of European Christian civilization, but not of some abstract western world. If we'll take geopolitical aspect, Ukraine's uniqueness is, that being practically on the border of uniting Europe and Asia, it is their connecting-link. Ukraine will have to play a very important role: not to allow appearance of new dividing lines in present-day Europe. Today nobody doubts, what disastrous effects can it cause. Ukraine should show political will in achievement of objects in view, because its future depends on result of today's actions: whether Ukraine will be a part of the one European economical and legal space, or remain "grey zone" of the continent. It is necessary to be guided by national interests, instead of hysterics of quasi-politicians, who make business on anti-Russian rhetoric, which is in fact anti-European. Only then Ukraine will cease to be "a cross mega-field", i.e. a territory where national interests of other states will be realized; it will in practice join the family of European nations. Copyright © Fundacja Batorego
|
||
