ANALYSIS: Poland proposes EU's new Eastern policy (02/16/03)

ANALYSIS

Poland proposes EU's new Eastern policy

Jan Maksymiuk
RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report

Polish and international media reported last week that Poland, following a commission from the Danish EU presidency last year, has proposed a paper outlining the expanded European Union's new policy with regard to its eastern neighbors: Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and Russia. Polish Foreign Ministry official Pawel Swieboda told journalists that the document was sent in early January to the foreign ministries of the 15 EU member-states, the 10 EU candidate countries, and to the four future EU neighbors. The European Commission is expected to publish the document in mid-March.

"We postulate the intensification of political dialogue [with the four future neighbors] in the context of security and foreign policy," Mr. Swieboda told PAP. "Such states as Ukraine have a lot to contribute, for instance in the resolution of conflicts in neighboring regions of the world, including the Transdniester area."

Mr. Swieboda said the document also includes a proposal for a gradual liberalization of trade between the enlarged EU and its eastern neighbors, but makes this proposal conditional on economic and political reforms in the four countries. Other inducements in the paper include the "long-term perspective" of EU membership and the establishment of a "European democracy fund," which would work through local non-governmental organizations to promote democratic values in the region.

Poland also proposes the creation of a European Peace Corps, modeled on the American Peace Corps. Warsaw believes that these initiatives will help eradicate "divisions between the enlarged EU and its eastern neighbors."

Ukraine's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Oleksander Chalyi said last week that Ukraine was satisfied with the Polish plan for the EU's new eastern policy. According to Mr. Chalyi, the plan assumes, first, that Ukraine will have an open road toward integration with the EU; second, that Ukraine may sign an accord on association with the EU in the future; and third, the document does not preclude Ukrainian membership in the European Union.

Jan Maksymiuk is the Belarus, Ukraine and Poland specialist on the staff of RFE/RL Newsline.

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