EAP Think Bridge - № 2020-17 - Oil Crisis: A Window of Opportunity for the Eastern Partnership Cover Image

EAP Think Bridge - № 2020-17 - Oil Crisis: A Window of Opportunity for the Eastern Partnership
EAP Think Bridge - № 2020-17 - Oil Crisis: A Window of Opportunity for the Eastern Partnership

Author(s): Sergiy Gerasymchuk, Victor Chirila, Lasha Tughushi, Vadim Mojeiko, Richard Giragosian, Zohrab Ismayil, Igor Stukalenko
Subject(s): Regional Geography, International relations/trade, Health and medicine and law, Present Times (2010 - today), Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: PIC Promotion of the Intercultural Cooperation
Keywords: Covid-19 pandemic; energy crisis;
Summary/Abstract: The sharp collapse in world oil prices has opened a new window of opportunities for most of the Eastern Partnership countries. This is a chance for the “association club” countries to comply with European requirements and create the necessary energy stocks with minimal budget expenditures. In addition, the crisis has shown the importance of developing the infrastructure that connects the states of the region. The first batch of Azerbaijani oil was delivered to Belarusian refineries via Georgian and Ukrainian ports and Ukrainian oil pipelines and became a trump card in the negotiations between Minsk and Moscow. How has the oil crisis affected Russia’s behavior in the region? And what new opportunities do the Eastern Partnership countries face? We analyzed in the current issue. Nevertheless, the focus in the region, as well as in entire world, in April remained on combating the coronavirus pandemic and its economic and social consequences. Although countries are slowly starting to lift quarantine restrictions, the situation is far from normal. Azerbaijan has already felt a serious blow in the banking sector. In Armenia, small and medium-sized businesses received only a tiny share of promised support from the state. Belarus, contrary to the epidemic, held a national Saturday clean-up and is preparing for the May 9 parade. The capital is still closed in Georgia and curfews are in effect. In Moldova, the coronavirus has aggravated the domestic political crisis while the Constitutional Court blocked the package of anti-crisis measures adopted by the government. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the governmental team faces staff shortages All the main April developments in the region are analyzed in our latest digest. //// CONTENT: Analytica: Oil Crisis: a Window of Opportunity for the Eastern Partnership // Azerbaijan: Supreme Court Discharged Two Opposition Members // Armenia’s Gradual Reopening // Coronavirus in Belarus: Controversial Decisions and European Solidarity // Georgia Gradually Comes out of Quarantine // Moldova: Economic Recession Seems Inevitable // Corona Crisis in Ukraine: Long-term Consequences are Inevitable

  • Page Count: 23
  • Publication Year: 2020
  • Language: English