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The enlarged European Union and its Eastern neighbours: problems and solutions
Pelczynska-Nalecz, Katarzyna |
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| The 2004 enlargement of the European Union will mean new neighbours and the need for a comprehensive policy towards all of them needs to be developed, with separate strategies for individual regions. Good relations will aid the military security of the European Union, including combating terrorism, its ability to deal with threats, such as illegal migration and smuggling, and in the long term economic relations may contribute to the member states’ economic growth. Russia as the second largest nuclear power and with its place as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, warrants special treatment. The policy towards Russia should be based on the assumption that the Russian Federation will not become a member of the European Union, but they should be regarded as a sovereign partners, interested in extensive co-operation, but not entitled to block the other’s internal solutions. Unlike Russia, Ukraine has declared a willingness to join the European Union, though it is far from ready. The final decision on Ukraine’s membership should be postponed, making it dependent on economic progress and political reform. While the European Union has limited influence on Belarus, it can declare its support for all efforts aimed at building democratic institutions in that country. In Moldova the European Union should actively support the ongoing negotiations between Tiraspol and Chisinau concerning the new constitution for a united Moldova. Moldova should have easier access to European Union markets for wine, one of its main exports. Its volume of production is too small to be a serious competitor of European Union wine producers but would make a huge economic difference to the country. |
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| Contributor: |
Centre for Eastern Studies - http://www.osw.waw.pl |
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| Topic: |
Transnational Development |
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| Country: |
Poland |
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| Document Type: |
Policy Analyses |
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| Year: |
2003 |
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| Keywords: |
EU Enlargement, Foreign Policy, Human Trafficking, Military Co-operation, Smuggling |
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