The new borders of the European Union: A new strategy for partnership?

Thursday, 1st of July, 2004 Kiev

This text was written as an introduction for the opening of the YES seminar 2004.

The year 2004 is likely to be a pivotal year for Ukraine as well as the Euro-Atlantic community. The United States and Europe are each moving in their own way to define new strategic agendas in two key areas. One area is what could be called the new eastern agenda i.e. those countries to the east of the new members joining NATO and the European Union. For perhaps the first time, serious discussions are starting to emerge in the West over how it could and should develop a more coherent policy toward the broader Black Sea region.

The relationships between Ukraine and the European Union are characterized rather by inefficient discussions than by real progress. British diplomat James Sherr used a striking word for labeling their discussion a dialogue between the deaf. The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement seems to have exhausted its potentialities in terms of many items, and the new framework of relationships has not been determined.

Where is Ukraine in the midst of this broader set of shifts and reappraisals? Are such reappraisals going to make Ukraine less or more relevant in the eyes of the West? The answer to this question depends in large part on what Ukraine does in the next 10 years.

This year is one of enormous opportunity for Kiev [G8, US-EU and NATO summits]. It has a chance to put itself at the centre of the new eastern agenda and make itself an important actor.

Ukraine has the chance to send a clear message that the country is changing. It can start to create a new dynamic where change at home starts to lead to changes in Western thinking and policy as well. While the path will be long and at time steep, it can start to create the dynamic that could bring the country closer and closer to the West and perhaps eventually fully into the Euro-Atlantic community.

How can we step back and lay out the big picture of what it would take to come up with a coherent and realistic strategy and anchor and integrate Ukraine in NATO and the European Union over the next decade?

What could be a long-term engagement partnership for Ukraine with the European Union?

Drawing on the lessons and experience of the last decade, what can be done by Ukraine, the United States and European Union to turn this vision step-by-step into reality?

How can Ukraine become a regional reform leader?

What could be a reformist agenda for Ukraine?

YALTA EUROPEAN SEMINAR PROGRAMME Friday, 2 nd of July 2004 Yalta
3.00 pm	Opening of the Yalta European Seminar Introduction by Victor Pinchuk
3.15 pm	First session The European Union Policies of Partnership: Challenges and Opportunities Moderator: Stephen Byers, Rapporteurs: Alexander Rahr, Vira Nanivska
4.30 pm	Coffee break Visit of the Museum and photos in Livadia Palace
5.15 pm	Speech by Mr. Jean Chretien
5.45 pm	Discussion
6.45 pm	End of the discussion
Saturday, 3 rd of July, 2004 Yalta
9.00 am	Second session The Politics of Integration into the European Union: Which scenarios? Moderator: Stewart Fleming Rapporteur: Dominique Strauss-Kahn
11.00 am	Conclusion of the seminar: Stephen Byers
11.15 am	Coffee break
11.30 am	A Ukrainian international think tank? by Victor Pinchuk
1.00 pm	End of the seminar