Transcript The Black Sea Region: New Challenges and Opportunities for

The Black Sea Region:
New Challenges and Opportunities
for Regional Cooperation
(ANALYSES from Ukraine)
prof. Grygorii Perepelytsia
THE ROLE OF UKRAINE IN THE BLACK SEA
REGION
Geopolitical role
1.
Ukraine is one of the main links of the vertical axis of transportation and
communication ties between the Northern European countries and the
Mediterranean and Middle East countries, as well as of the horizontal axis
which joins two geopolitical world centers, two civilizations - Europe and
Asia.
2.
Ukraine plays the role of promoter of European orientation for the PostSoviet countries of the Black Sea region.
3.
The leading role of Ukraine in implementation of European initiatives in the
Black Sea region.
4.
Ukraine tries to assert itself in the region as a viable and influential country
and subregional leader.
THE ROLE OF UKRAINE IN THE BLACK SEA
REGION
Economic role
1. Ukraine is an important trading partner for the countries of
the Black Sea region.
2. Ukraine is an important link in providing the European
consumer market with fuel and energy resources.
THE ROLE OF UKRAINE IN THE BLACK SEA
REGION
Security role
1. Peacekeeping role of Ukraine in the Black Sea region.
2. Ukraine’s role in implementation of initiatives on the Black Sea
security.
3. An active role of Ukraine in protection of sovereignty and
territorial integrity of the Black Sea region countries.
KEY ISSUES IN FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY
In the sphere of security policy:
1. Gaining NATO membership.
2. New actions on security and stability for Caucasus.
3. Demilitarization of the Black Sea region.
4. Maintaining such a power balance in the region which would make
impossible the military and political domination of one of the Black Sea
countries and promote strengthening of peace and security in the Black
Sea region.
5. Settlement of local conflicts and territorial disputes.
6. Fight against smuggling, illegal migration, organized crime and drug
business.
7. Improvement of environmental security in the region.
KEY ISSUES IN FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY
In the sphere of foreign policy:
1.
Support of democratic processes in the countries of the region.
2. Development of the Baltic and Black Sea cooperation system.
3. Diversification of energy supply.
4. Search for alternative markets for Ukrainian products.
5. Modernization of national economy which is connected with attracting
international investments and technologies.
6. Formation of the Caspian – Black Sea – Baltic Energy Transit Space.
7. Implementation of the project on the Danube energy transport bridge.
8. Introduction of the control mechanism over pollution of the Black Sea ecosystem.
VISION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION
Priority directions:
1. security;
2. energy;
3. transport;
4. trade and economic development;
5. banking and finances;
6. communication, science and technology;
7. tourism and environmental protection.
VISION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION
Initiatives and projects:
1.
To define those directions for cooperation which may be the most
priority ones for the most of Black Sea countries.
2.
To develop specific projects on realization of priority directions for
cooperation and provide their proper funding.
3.
To form credit pools and to open new credit lines for funding the largescale projects concerning development of trade and infrastructure.
4.
To strengthen the dialogue between BSEC and different regional and
subregional structures, first of all, with the European Union and
European banks for the purpose of promotion of economic and social
transformations in the countries of the region.
VISION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION
Initiatives and projects:
5.
To form the banking infrastructure and a network of business centres for the
purpose of funding and information support of both public investments and
private business in infrastructure projects.
6.
To establish the monitoring and highlighting of dynamics of export and import
operations of the Black Sea countries that will enable to find out the weak points
and make correction of foreign trade flows in the Black Sea region and,
accordingly, will improve the economic situation in the countries of the region.
7.
To create the regime of free movement of goods, services and capital that would
promote economic contacts, extend the frames of industrial cooperation and joint
investments in the sphere of mutual interests.
8.
To unify the customs system of the countries of the region, thus creating a fullfledged system of multilateral accounts and organizing the Black Sea Payment
Union in the future.
LIMITATIONS AND OBSTACLES FOR
REGIONAL COOPERATION
1. Struggle for dominating in the Black Sea region.
2. Internal conflicts.
3. A problem of borders and territorial disputes.
4. Inequality of economic development of different
countries of the region.
5. A great variety and even contradiction of priorities of the
Black Sea Region countries.
6. Low level of trade and economic relations in the region.
THE ROLE OF NATO, EU, CIS, GUAM,
SCO
NATO and EU should play a priority role in the Black
Sea region at the regional level,
GUAM and other subregional organizations and
initiatives – at the subregional level