continuam serialul despre parteneriatul estic (cateva episoade anterioare: parteneriatul estic vs planul rus, presedintia ceha si parteneriatul estic. saptamana trecuta am fost si la sofia cu ECFR. am organizat un panel public cu ministrul de externe ivailo kalfin, seful de cabinet al benitei ferrero-waldner patrick child, si cativa ambasadori cu misiuni speciale din UE. am prezentat cateva din ideile preliminare din raportul pe care il scriem despre politica europeana de vecinatate. iata un comunicat de la MAE si un articol pentru cei care stiu bulgara).

in jurul evenimentului public mai multe discutii cu experti (vedeti notitele mai jos). a fost si stanislav secrieru. atentie notitele plasate pe blog saptamana trecuta NU sunt din discutiile cu ministrul Kalfin, ci cu un alt ministru de externe din UE. iata cateva notite luate in timpul evenimentului public si care NU apartin oficialilor mentionati mai sus.

  • There is a de facto competition with Russia  in the neighbourhood Russia  has clear goals – to consolidate a sphere of influence. EU doesn’t have clear goals.
  • Russia has a double demographic crisis. A population decline. But also a changing balance between ethnic Slavs and Muslims (birth rates and immigration).
  • Russia believes the EU is a temporary phenomenon. They believe only in nation states.
  • The crisis in Russia shattered their worldview from the past few years. They start seeing their vulnerabilities.
  • There is a big fear that Ukraine (and Turkey) will take over the European parliament if they join.
  • On ENP – there is no shortage of political intention, what we really lack is member states support on ENP.
  • The financial crisis undermines the attractiveness of the Russian model
  • The success of the ENP is based on bilateral relations with the neighbours.
  • Russia realises that coercion of its neighbours was not effective. It is moving into a much more positive incentives based policy.
  • EU policy in the neighbourhood is much more adapted to take into account Russian interests. Ru FP is not adapted at all.