Ukraine in the Eastern Partnership: Achievements and Perspectives Cover Image

Ukraina w Partnerstwie Wschodnim: osiągnięcia i perspektywy
Ukraine in the Eastern Partnership: Achievements and Perspectives

Author(s): Hanna Bazhenova
Subject(s): Diplomatic history, Political history, Economic policy, International relations/trade, Comparative politics, Transformation Period (1990 - 2010), Present Times (2010 - today), EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: Instytut Europy Środkowej
Keywords: Ukraine; European Union; European Neighbourhood Policy; Eastern Partnership; 10 years; integration; differentiated approach;

Summary/Abstract: May 2019 marked the 10th anniversary of the launch of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership initiative, which encourages democratic reforms in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine and the strengthening of the relations and cooperation between these countries and the EU. During this period, significant results were achieved in terms of political association, economic relations and regulatory convergence. Thanks to this initiative, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine signed association and free trade area agreements (DCFTAs) and achieved visa-free travel. One of the main drawbacks of the programme at this stage is that it does not provide for a differentiated approach towards partner countries and deeper cooperation with those already signatory to Association Agreements. The anniversary of the Eastern Partnership encourages to take stock of the results of the initiative and identify perspectives for its further development. The aim of this article is to identify the main achievements of the Eastern Partnership from the perspective of Ukraine’s priorities and interests, as well as to propose a new effective model of relations between Ukraine and other partner countries with the EU under this initiative. The text sets out and analyses the main stages of the cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the years 1991–2019, especially the participation of Ukraine in the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership. The article shows that the Eastern Partnership policy and its implementation mechanisms need a structural review and differentiated, individual approaches that would meet the needs, expectations and interests of all the parties. If the EU intends to continue building mutually beneficial relations with its eastern neighbours, it should not only maintain the existing initiative, but also adapt it effectively to the challenges of the present. The EU should therefore develop a sufficiently attractive and effective model of cooperation to support pro-European reforms in its partner countries.

  • Issue Year: 17/2019
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 65-93
  • Page Count: 29
  • Language: Polish