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iata un anunt de job la ECFR.

POLICY FELLOW – RUSSIA AND EASTERN NEIGHBOURHOOD

BASED IN LONDON

6 Month Fixed Term Contract – 1^st Feb 2010 to 31^st Jul 2010

The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) is the first pan-European foreign policy think-tank. Launched in October 2007, it has offices in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris and Sofia. ECFR’s Council of 100 Members – including politicians, decision makers, thinkers and business people – is chaired by Martti Ahtisaari, Joschka Fischer and Mabel van Oranje.

ECFR has brought together a team of distinguished researchers and practitioners from all over Europe to advance its objectives through innovative projects with a pan-European focus

We are currently recruiting a Policy Fellow for our Russia and Eastern Neighbourhood to provide analysis and advice on key political, social and security issues related to EU foreign policies towards Russia and the Eastern Neighborhood. (more…)

in primul rand Craciun Fericit tuturor!

iata cum ideile si teoriile ajung realitati (uneori). unul din rezultatele ultimului consiliu de cooperare moldova-ue (declaratia intreaga) pe 21 decembrie este trimiterea la chisinau al unui grup de consilieri europeni pentru guvern:

“…representatives of both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning an intention of the European Commission to provide the Government of the Republic of Moldovan with a High Level Policy Advisory Mission. The task of that mission is to guide and support democratic reforms in the Republic of Moldova, and thus to contribute to accelerating political association and further economic integration between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova. The Advisory Mission will be working with key governmental institutions including the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministries of Justice, Economy, Finance, Interior, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister responsible for relations with the Transnistrian region and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration…” (more…)

It is not difficult to be depressed about the EU these days. A recent re-read of the Laeken declaration that set in motion the whole European Convention, the Constitutional and Lisbon Treaties exercises just made me think (more) how far is EU’s current state (and institutional basis) from the stated ambitions of 2001. Here us a useful reminder of the spirit of the declaration:

“What is Europe’s role in this changed world? Does Europe not, now that is finally unified, have a leading role to play in a new world order, that of a power able both to play a stabilising role worldwide and to point the way ahead for many countries and peoples? Europe as the continent of humane values, the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, the French Revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall… The European Union’s one boundary is democracy and human rights…  Europe needs to shoulder its responsibilities in the governance of globalisation. The role it has to play is that of a power resolutely doing battle against all violence, all terror and all fanaticism… In short, a power wanting to change the course of world affairs.”

The truth is that throughout most of its existence the EU was as frustrating and depressive for its supporters as is it now. And yet, it still is the single most successful international organisation in history. So how do we balance euro-pessimism and optimism, history and future, success and failure, analysis and wishful thinking? (more…)

(with updates)… I have just returned from Germany from a joint ECFR-Bertelsman event on the “Eastern partnership or Partnership with Russia”. Of course, the answer is with both. No need to spend time on this. But I got a certain sense that the German debate on Russia and the Eastern neighbourhood might be changing. Of course this is only a snapshot and such trends are far from consolidated. And they have yet to trickle down through the German foreign policy machinery, not least in the Brussels committees. But here are some of the interesting nuances I have heard in my convesrsations with a few experts as well as FDP and CDU (the new coalition partners) voices.

On Ukraine

There might be an increasing sense that Ukraine, Moldova, and perhaps Belarus will “of course” join the EU. Though with two caveats:  1) in the long run (defined as 20-30 years), and 2) “this should happen at our own pace, not due to geopolitical considerations”. The language is still more positive than I ever heard in Germany. (more…)

o escala scurta la berlin ieri. am prezentat raportul pe politica de vecinatate la un eveniment comun organizat cu bertelsmann. interventii interesante din partea a doi parlamentari germani din CDU si FDP (care spre deosebire de parlamentarii din majoritatea celorlalte state chiar au influenta asupra politicii externe). din cate inteleg are loc o discutie ceva mai larga privind redefinirea accentelor din politica externa germana. discutia inca continua, dar am impresia ca fdp (partenerul minor in coalitia de guvernamand, insa liderul fdp westerwelle este noul ministru de externe si vice-cancelar) mult mai pozitiva… gasiti mai jos cateva elemente din discutiile de ieri:

Berlin

CDU

• Of course Ukraine, Moldova and By will be integrated into European structures.
• Is it in our interests to give Siberia to China? We are interested in a strong Russia integrated into European structures. (more…)