Fundacja im. Stefana Batorego

International Program

The Enlarged EU and Ukraine: New Relations

contact:
Grzegorz Gromadzki
ggromadzki@batory.org.pl,
Anna Wróbel
awrobel@batory.org.pl

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).

Interviews

Interview with Volodymyr Yevtuh

A dean of sociology and psychology department of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University, doctor of historical science, professor, Corresponding Member of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Minister on nationalities' affairs and migration (1995-1997), Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Italian Republic (1997-2000)

What means "Ukraine's European choice" for you?

European choice for me is more close economical, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation between Ukraine and countries of Central and Western Europe; it is the possibility of free interchange of people and information; this is participation of Ukraine (and its citizens) in common with European countries programs of social development; it is a cultural dialogue between nations and enrichment with cultural properties of countries of western world. European choice is a way nations' co-existence without conflict. It, of course, is also strengthening of positions in further common overcoming of such negative phenomena of present-day social development, as terror, epidemics and ecocatastrophes.

Reasons and obstacles of Ukraine's participation in the processes of European integration.

First of all, different understanding of democracy; difference (not for Ukraine's good) in economical development; low intellectual level of so-called authoritative elite of Ukraine; low level of mastering modern technologies, which determine social development of the country. Non-coincidence of phases of countries' political development — Ukraine just starts construction of political structure of society similar to western ones; public opinion in its majority isn't ready for perception and adoption in Ukraine of properties of political and social development under conditions of democracy, as totalitarian past left a deep track in population's consciousness, and until the new authoritative and political elite (brought up on combination of positive features of domestic social development and advantages of western way of living) will form, our movement toward Europe is minimal.

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?

Ukraine can make a noticeable contribution in development of science, technologies, and within some framework provide EU countries with some kinds of agricultural production. As to political and social processes, Ukraine's contribution in this sphere, at least in present stage of development, isn't observed. The main reason of this is, that Europe is not ready to perceive Ukraine with its political and social structure as a state that meets modern European standards within the framework of globalisation processes. Culturally Ukraine by means of fiction and art can promote understanding and perception by western world of people, who due to objective circumstances, being Europeans geographically and mentally, nevertheless found themselves closer to other civilizations, than, say, overwhelming majority of western Europeans.

Today's EU expansion and its influence on Ukraine.

EU expansion can affect Ukraine mostly positively, having approached large sections of the public to more adequate understanding of democracy; it will stimulate formation of civil society; it will increase opportunities of access to European informational and cultural space; stimulate more rational production organization and use of resources. EU expansion will open new impulses for Ukraine to enter EU, stimulate transformational process from totalitarian to democratic society, and enhance formation of social opinion in direction of perception of western countries' values of social development, especially those concerning legal protection of citizens from wilfulness of power and money. EU expansion will give additional stimulus for overcoming of negative stereotypes in relations between Ukraine's closest neighbours, which were being formed under pressure of historical events (for instance, between Ukraine and Poland). At the same time, the expansion can gradually destroy current relations, which were formed in Ukraine on quite positive basis of Christian morale.

The role of neighbouring countries, which soon must become EU members (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia), in realization of "Ukraine's European choice".

Strengthening of ties with neighbouring countries will approach Ukraine to EU, promote Ukraine's participation in globalisation processes and consolidation of Ukraine's European choice. The basis of this should become positive experience of ties in all spheres of social life that were being formed for years. In this connection boundary cooperation, especially youth programs can play positive role.

An effective way of Ukraine towards European structures: independently or along with Russia?

Of course, independently, as Russia is much tied with eastern civilization. Besides, it's a part of various kinds of Asian global systems. Including of one civilization into another is impossible; here one can speak only about cooperation and interaction. Especially since in Russia's policy concerning Ukraine the principles of equal in rights partnership are not kept, there is to some extent pressure and submission to Russia's strategic interests, that is shown in Ukraine's involvement into Euro-Asian blocs, forcing of introduction of one economical space, one ruble zone on the part of post-Soviet territory etc.

What are the interests of Ukrainian business in EU countries?

Now the main interest is the possibility of strengthening of its positions in Ukrainian society and money remittance to the West for own enrichment (the question is about business that was formed on the basis of partition between the "clans" of state property). In future, however, it can be an interest in cooperation for formation of common economical space and interchange of production activity results that will promote improvement of social situation, first of all in Ukraine.

What would you advise to change in the policy of EU concerning Ukraine?

Those, who form EU policy, I'd advise to realize, that Ukraine is a European country; open more opportunities for interchanges, in particular youth ones; elaborate social programs of Ukraine's integration into political, economical, social and cultural European spaces, but not to restrict Ukraine's interaction with European countries by a status of "country-neighbour". One should use democratic methods of social life's structuring in foreign policy as well, in particular concerning Ukraine; cancel biases regarding the state on the whole and its population, and strengthen prejudice measures against concrete persons and structures that are inclined to corrupt actions. In its requirements to Ukraine on the way of advancement to European Union, one should clearly determine desirable time limits and pick out the stages in which Ukraine should carry out corresponding actions, in order to adapt to EU standards.

The problems of visas and migration.

It's necessary to form new approaches to migration of Ukrainian population, concluding agreements with Ukraine, in which the points of protection of Ukrainian immigrants in country of residence would be determined. EU countries should more effectively cooperate with Ukraine on equipping of Ukrainian Eastern borders. One ought to revise unfairly fierce policy of Western-European countries concerning giving of visas to Ukrainian citizens, first of all students, scientists, public figures and proprietors — that categories, which stimulate Ukraine's interaction with European states, creating prerequisites for joining in one economical and sociological-cultural spaces.

Common and differences between Ukraine and "western culture". Is Ukraine a part of the Western World?

Differences between Ukraine and "western culture" (under this term I understand civilization, way of living and thinking, results of person's activity in spiritual sphere) were conditioned by being of these two parts for a long time in different systems of social development — totalitarian (Ukraine) and to some extent democratic (Western Europe). It caused opposite perception of social development, human values and, accordingly, intermediate respond to social phenomena.

Of course, there is much common in Ukrainian culture and culture of Western-European countries — first of all, these are approaches to estimation of person's role in civilization processes and common philosophic ways of interpretation of cultural phenomena in present-day world. Since deep principles of Ukrainian culture have been forming for a long time to some extant under the influence of interaction with Western culture, then, say, folklore takes an important place in culture of both parts. Nowadays, due to modern communicational and informational technologies, Ukraine's culture (music, theatre, variety art etc.) is under influence of the West, and, say, so-called youth culture of Ukrainians and citizens of other countries develops in one communicational space.

Ukraine to much extent (the elements of the same culture, thinking, formation of social relations, and since recent times — formation of political culture) is a part of the western world. More exactly, the factors listed above closely tie Ukraine with this world.