Integration of the Black Sea Region: Themes and Challenges

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Integration of the Black Sea Region Themes and
Challenges

• Oleksandr Svyetlov

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Theoretical approaches

• rationalist vs. constructivist approaches
• regionalizations pre-conditions

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Unique nature of the Black Sea region

• Regions unique position
• Regions paradoxes

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History of the Black Sea regional cooperation

• Temporal dimension
• 1st phase till 1995
• 2nd phase 1995 1999
• 3rd phase 2000 2008
• 4th phase 2008 current
• Orgs. and Tools BSEC, GUAM, CDC, Black Sea
  Forum, TRACECA, DABLAS, INOGATE, ENP, EaP, Black
  Sea Synergy
• Think tanks Commission on the Black Sea, Black
  Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation

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Approaches towardsBlack Sea regionalism

• Compensatory regionalism
• Dysfunctional regionalism
• Eclectic regionalism
• Institutional regionalism
• Geo-political regionalism
• Good neighbourliness regionalism
• Security regionalism
• Technical regionalism
• Transformative regionalism

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EUs involvement in the Black Sea region

• Geopolitical rivalry
• EUs policy instruments
• EUs Black Sea Synergy Proposal

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What kind of future?
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Policy Recommendations for the Black Sea
regional integration

• targets and deadlines for legally binding rules
• creation of common and specific funds
• confidence-building measures
• regular consultation / coordination mechanisms
• individual states devotion complex approach

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Dilemmas of Ukraines path
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Ukraine - a victim of neighbouring states
geopolitical games and its own Soviet-dependent
passivity of identity, discourse and policy?
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Ukraines geopolitical role

• Ukraine is one of the main links of the vertical
  axis of transportation and communication ties
  between the Northern European countries and the
  Mediterranean and Middle East countries, as well
  as of the horizontal axis which joins two
  geopolitical world centers, two civilizations -
  Europe and Asia.
• Ukraine plays the role of promoter of European
  orientation for the Post-Soviet countries of the
  Black Sea region.
• The leading role of Ukraine in implementation of
  European initiatives in the Black Sea region.
• Ukraine tries to assert itself in the region as a
  viable and influential country and subregional
  leader.

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Ukraines economic role

• Ukraine is an important trading partner for the
  countries of the Black Sea region.
• Ukraine is an important link in providing the
  European consumer market with fuel and energy
  resources.

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Ukraines priority fields

• security
• energy
• transport
• trade and economic development
• banking and finances
• communication, science and technology
• 7. tourism and environmental protection.

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Long live the common European house!
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Thank you!