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International ProgramThe Enlarged EU and Ukraine: New Relations |
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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). |
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Interview with Petro SymonenkoA head of faction of Communist party of Ukraine (CPU) in the Supreme Rada of Ukraine, First secretary of Central Committee of CPU. What means "Ukraine's European choice" for you?This term is often used in Ukrainian policy and mass media; but one has to establish that it's meaning, as a rule, is brought to dubious populist slogans of supreme officials of Ukraine with indispensable use by them of brand "Europe". The President of Ukraine, for instance, and his adherents several times contradictory, ambitiously and tactically ingratiated themselves with leaders of Russia, Europe countries, the USA, as well as with Ukrainian political circles, every time declaring new strategic foreign-political priorities of Ukraine. Unfortunately, this "political populism" with contradictory character at suggestion of the President of Ukraine L. Kuchma has been used in Ukrainian legislation. It also caused, that today professional foreign-political relations between Ukraine and EU are being formed on inadequate appraisals by Ukraine and European partners of each other: Ukraine suffers from tendency of making pronouncements for effect and populism of its domestic and foreign political decisions concerning Europe and Euro-Atlantic region; and Europe, in its turn, doesn't understand what policy Ukrainian authorities carry out. It is impossible to build strong and mutually beneficial relations on this basis. To my mind, today for purposes of Ukraine's internal policy it makes sense to consider under the term "Ukraine's European choice" aspiration of Ukrainian people to achieve living standards of leading EU countries. This position, in my opinion, is a reality of Ukrainian policy, and all political forces in Ukraine can support it. It is a component of Ukraine's national interest. To make first steps in realization of this component of national interests I, as a head of communist faction in Ukraine's parliament, have been trying for long to speed up the process of ratification by Ukraine of European Social Charter (revised) of a year 1996, but, unfortunately, Ukrainian government, having signed this agreement in 1999, disregards this important document of social protection of Ukrainian and European citizens. In the sphere of foreign policy the term "Ukraine's European choice" means the situation, in which Ukraine has to position itself in the connection with present-day world configuration that since 2001 have been getting new features more and more. Against a background of present war in Iraq and aggression of the USA these features become more significant: Europe as the only player on the world scene and resistance to it on the part of the USA; US infringement upon world leadership under cover of doctrine "struggle against terror" with at the same time violation by the USA of principles of collective diplomacy; competition between dollar and EURO; severe struggle between the states and transnational corporations for energy resources; formation of the Russian Federation as a regional state; transformation of NATO as a rudiment of "the cold war"; intensive economical development of China — all this is just a broad scheme of present-day world dynamics that solves the main problem: whether the world will be unipolar or multipolar?! In his global context Ukraine should first of all form and strengthen new axes of world multipolarity "Paris-Berlin-Moscow" and "Washington-London". What place will Ukraine take in this alignment of forces? Up to date strategic answer to this question hasn't been found, it, however, much depends on real transformation of our state into European parliamentary republic. Thus, "Ukraine's European choice" — is a complicated and important foreign-political task that Ukraine should perform under abovementioned conditions of multipolarity on the assumption of national and all-European interests. And we should perform it with dignity — Ukraine should enter Europe as a strong and all-sufficient state, but not to be pulled in it by Uncle Sam or sops of gracious Europeans. One should perform this task in the way, that Ukraine was a subject, but not the object of European integration. Reasons and obstacles of Ukraine's participation in the processes of European integration.I think, that the answer to this question is adequately expounded above. As to obstacles, then the main obstacle is a great objective considerable economical lag of Ukraine from EU countries. Other obstacles are internal discrepancies of Ukrainian policy, old stereotypes of thinking from "the cold war" times in EU countries and Ukraine, as well as often used by western countries approach of double standards regarding Ukraine, when we are not perceived as equal in rights partner. Ukraine longs to be a subject of European policy, but not its object. 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?Up to date this role is minimal. Ukraine's participation in all-European processes, and furthermore influence on their course, will become possible only in case of democratic transformations in our country, when people become a subject of political and social-economical processes. One shouldn't exclude, that this process can be quite long. One also shouldn't exclude, that conditions of geopolitical and geo-economical system will make EU concern about increase of a number of states, which will cooperate with united Europe more closely. We have already first results of this process. In March 2003 European Commission determined a strategy of its relations for next ten years with "friendly circle of the nearest neighbours", which entry into European Union isn't planned yet. The question is about Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Belarus and a number of states of South Mediterranean from Morocco to Israel and Palestine. Europeans offer this "circle" free movement of people, goods, services and capitals. Nevertheless we understand, that these suitable for many propositions are rather caused by external events, than natural course of events. On basis of frankly cynical American supremacy Europeans hasten to declare their own zone of geopolitical influence, anticipating that the USA won't fix on Iraq. In practical meaning one can name a number of possibilities that can become Ukraine's real contribution in common European house. Political sphere:
Economic sphere:
As to Ukraine's role in future Europe, it will depend on success of Ukraine and European partners in realization of mentioned and other possible contributions to the one European prosperity. As to desirable role, I'm going to tell European community one thing: Ukraine isn't Malta, though it seems so to somebody in Europe on basis of quite real economical indicators. And speaking well of it, I'll give just one example — World War II and Ukraine's role in it. Today's EU expansion and its influence on Ukraine.The question is difficult, and it much depends on how renovated EU will look like in practice. But without going into details I consider, that EU influence on Ukraine will increase in all spheres. Especially taking into consideration that EU members will carry out European policy, which will considerably depend on the USA. Today Poland and Lithuania stir up Ukraine's entry into NATO, and later into EU. Of course, behind them is the USA, and formation of a new pro-American camp headed by Great Britain and Poland in future Europe in opposition to France, Germany and Belgium that plump for centralized and federal Europe is very beneficial for the USA. There is another question in this row — whether the move of American military contingent and bases from the territory of Germany to Poland will take place, as relations between Germany and the USA on the eve of aggression in Iraq led to it. Today's interest of US frontier guards in cooperation in experience interchange (there have already been planned some actions) with Ukrainian colleagues evidences, that this possibility isn't excluded. Purchase by Poland of US modern military aircrafts at much cost also evidences Americans' wish to strengthen its military presence in Eastern Europe. As a result — the USA urges Ukraine to join NATO, European partners don't want it though. As a result — with the help of Baltic States, Poland and Ukraine the USA aspires to create in Europe Baltic-Black Sea arch in opposition to Russia and old Europe. In this aspect the main question for me is what NATO are we urged to: NATO — military bloc? But we are off-bloc state, and "cold war" is already over. NATO — anti-terror organization? But terror can't be extirpated by gun shoots, especially as Americans make these shoots on their own, without NATO assistance. NATO as a political organization? Then what are its purposes, and how its activity correlates with UNO? Neither American, nor European politicians gave definitive answers to these questions, even theoretically. Therefore I think, that up to date NATO has already had its day. And my attitude toward EU expansion is negative, if Europeans carry out it only as NATO expansion, which today has the only status — US assistant in its forcible policy on the world scene. Besides, from institutional point of view an important question for Ukraine is, what place Council of Europe (in particular Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe) and Conference of Security and Cooperation in Europe will take in expanded Europe, because these organizations embody today the interests of Europe as a continent. Solution of this question depends first of all on internal political processes of EU, that enables us to ascertain once more, and European partners demonstrate their political will concerning all-European integration. An effective way of Ukraine towards European structures: independently or along with Russia?In connection with this question one should mention, that Russia doesn't see the possibility of its joining EU like Europeans see it. EU and Russia are players of one level on international scene, though EU surpasses economically, and Russia — military-politically. That's why even under hypothetical condition of close integral processes between them one can't talk about Russia's movement toward EU, but more likely about creation of qualitatively new all-European structures. Under these conditions new European structures can become an effective way of achievement by Ukrainian people of European standards of living. But it's a long-term prospect. I don't consider, that Ukraine's entering of European structures (I mean total integration, but not close cooperation in some spheres) beyond bilateral relations Russia-EU can be short or medium-term. That only can be effective, what is possible. In our case — it's coordination of Ukrainian policy with Russia, because for Ukraine in any case it would be more safely and economically and politically expediently to make this movement along with Russia. And not only with Russia, but with all subjects of February (2003) Moscow agreements about creation of the One Economical Space and Organization of Regional Integration (OES and ORI). Together we are a ponderable economical and geo-political factor within Eurasian space, and an important link, which ensures intercommunication of all regions of great mainland Eurasia — from Brest near the Atlantic Ocean to Yokohama and Hong Kong in the Far East. So, having such an important role, we could reach necessary understandings with united Europe on priority-driven grounds. What are the interests of Ukrainian society and business in EU countries?Ukrainian business is first of all interested in investment, markets and technologies of EU countries. We are ready to strengthen corresponding guarantees for European partners in these spheres in terms of adequate EU policy, but we don't want to get on the situation of full dependence on European capital. Ukrainian society has much more broad interests in EU than business, and these interests don't go beyond just economy. They include experience of formation of democracy, parliamentarism, and cultural values. Important are spheres of tourism, telecommunications and informational technologies (for example, application of informational technologies in the field of jurisprudence), as well as science, education and medicine. European experience of legal regulation is also valuable, in particular directives and other EU statements. They represent the highest standards in many spheres of social life, but Ukraine can perceive them only after their adaptation to Ukrainian realities, but in some spheres it's impossible at all. What would you advise to change in the policy of EU concerning Ukraine?I think, that my pieces of advice "have been read" in all my answers, but one should separately mention about the necessity of more adequate to Ukrainian realities Ukraine's performance in EU informational space. I also think, that combined measures of Ukraine and EU must mostly be directed to strengthening of confidence between citizens of Ukraine and EU states. Moreover, to my mind, prospective for Ukraine is Russian idea of creation and development of "Euroregions", as separate industrially and technically developed Russia's regions, where cooperation between EU and Russia will acquire specific shapes. The main project in this matter should become Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation. In Ukraine there are a number of powerful and prospective regions from economical point of view, where one could effectively concentrate interests of Ukraine, EU and Russia on principle of "Euroregions". In general, present status of a neighbour and an amicable state, that EU determined for Ukraine, is more realistic and, thus, more effective, than ambitious and inexpedient plans of president L. Kuchma and Ukrainian government. Therefore such status can serve as a basis of relations between Ukraine and EU for short and medium-term prospective. The problems of visas and migrationIn my opinion, to solve the problem of visas it would be desirable to take as an example Ukrainian-Poland model, when Poland will give Ukrainian citizens free visas in simplified order, and Ukraine will provide Poland with visa-free regime. Corresponding interstate agreement about these terms is to be signed this year. Of course, other new EU members will act concerning this matter in their own way, including on the assumption of their own agreements with EU. But necessity of keeping and development of stable relations between Ukraine and these states requires privileged visa terms, which, of course, would be carried out on terms of reciprocity and parity. As to migration, Ukraine realizes EU trouble concerning protection of European markets and maintenance of law and order. I consider, that to solve this problem, one should make the following: intensify collaboration of law-enforcement services of all interested European partners with Ukrainian ones for efficient reaction to the most dangerous cases of illegal migration from Ukraine to EU; and in order to solve the problem cardinally — with the help of social-economic, political and cultural methods conduct a gradual strategy of improvement of conditions of job placement of Ukrainian citizens in Ukraine. In the last case, for instance, EU and its members could pay more attention to social-economic direction of investment and credits that Ukraine receives today, because liberalization process in economy of our state, unfortunately, are not accompanied by strengthening of social-economical guarantees of workers. One of its consequences is labour migration of Ukrainian citizens to EU. Another problem is maintenance of the rights of millions of Ukrainian citizens, who already illegally or half-legally stay and work in EU countries like slaves, because Ukrainian power isn't able to provide them with normal social-economic conditions within the territory of native Ukraine. Seeing in this problem first of all Ukrainian trouble, consequences of which will hit Europe, one should mention, that EU countries inadequately solve it as well, applying for Ukraine and its citizens far from European, but some secondary standards in the sphere of labour relations. We, communists, are ready to make every effort to achieve civilized interchange of manpower with EU countries. Common and differences between Ukraine and "western culture". Is Ukraine a part of the Western World?Leaving the answer to this question for political scientists, sociologists and cultural scientists, I'll mention: is Eastern-European culture a part of the Western one? I think, that partially it is, and partially it isn't. But, certainly, this culture is unique, because it origins from Byzantine roots and has Christian essence. Ukraine is an organic component of Eastern-European culture. Copyright © Fundacja Batorego
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