Romania-Ukraine Relations. Bucharest Workshop

Ukraine - Romania Relations: Perceptions, Perspectives, Priorities

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are needed to see this picture.B S T The Black Sea Trustfor Regional CooperationA PROJECT OF THE GERMAN MARSHALL FUND


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Finding opportunities for cooperation

Workshop

Bucharest, October 7th, 2011

THE SITUATION

One of the most important problems in the policy of

European Neighborhood and international co-operation in the

Wider Black Sea region is stagnation of bilateral Ukraine-

Romania relations. The officials in Ukraine and Romania rather put an emphasis

on the sensitive historical and border related issues as

well as on the actual minority and ecology related problems

in the area, thus eliminating the potential for co-

operation between the countries and neglecting the benefits

of a win-win approach.


are needed to see this picture. B S T The Black Sea Trustfor Regional CooperationA PROJECT OF THE GERMAN MARSHALL FUND



THE PROJECT

Initiators:STRATEGIC AND SECURITY STUDIES GROUP (Kyiv, Ukraine) and RESURSE Association (Piatra Neamt, Romania) with the support of The Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation

Perspective:Improve the relations between Romania and Ukraine by setting better connections between experts and stakeholders and defining top priority grounds for cooperation

Main steps: Establish International Expert Consortium (IEC) to connect supporters of closer co-operation between Ukraine and RomaniaCooperate in developing the structure and content of a policy - paper in order to adjust a win-win approach between the countries and facilitate the public and governmental discussion on the outcomes





KEY DRIVERS FOR ENHANCING BILATERAL RELATIONS





Territorial disputes settlement

Demarcation of maritime borders and exclusive economic zones in the Black Sea

Overcome the consequences of the Ribbentrop-Molotov by both parties, and waive of any territorial claims expressed or implied

Involvement of international bodies in providing ways and means for an objective assessment of the situation

Collaboration, common projects of the Romanian and Ukrainian border villagesAvoiding the practice of an aggressive foreign politics






European cooperation

Elimination of ethnic and linguistic discrimination elements and provision for the national minorities in the two countries of a treatment according to European legislation, in particular the right to education in their native language (Romanian) for minorities in Chernovtsy region, Izmail and City Alba (Belgorod)

Offering Romanian minorities in Ukraine the same rights that the Ukrainian minorities have in Romania (the recent example in Odessa – Romanian television)

Intercultural and economic cooperation

Ukraine to foster closer relations with the European Union

Increased dialogue at the civil society level






Economic relations

Governmental cooperation between the two countries

Development of business programs, involvement of the business sector

Intensification of the economic diplomacy type relations

Involvement of both countries in joint projects in the Black Sea

region

Environmental policies

Addressing environmental issues and those related to the operation of

the Danube basin and the protection of biodiversity in the Danube

Delta as a priority over economic projects that may affect the

biodiversity.

Common environmental projects at the Black Sea






AcademicExchanges of the academic nature, partnerships between universities

Involvement of youth and students in educational and cultural collaboration in order to promote dialogue between Romania and Ukraine

Academic research projects

JOINT INITIATIVES OF KYIV AND BUCHAREST POLICY-MAKERS SUCCESSFUL FOR THE REGION





Clarifying territorial disputes Foster cross-border projects on various domains - environment, civil society, democracyCombating illicit trade and trafficking across the borderAvoid aggressive foreign policy that Romania was close to adopting, as a member of NATO and the EU, in relation to Ukraine

Energy cooperationA cooperation plan in the field of environmental policiesInitiatives for a green Black Sea coast and construction of a tourism infrastructure Common actions on fisheries policy and protection of endangered species of dolphins in the Black Sea

JOINT INITIATIVES OF KYIV AND BUCHAREST POLICY-MAKERS SUCCESSFUL FOR THE REGION





A responsible operational plan of the areaInitiatives aimed at cooperation with Black Sea states, especially Turkey, South Caucasian states and RussiaCreation of a common entity to exploit the agricultural, touristy and energetic potentialEnhance commercial exchangesPreservation and protection of the Danube Delta ecosystem

Intercultural policiesCooperation between local communities regarding the minorities Facilitate the access to cultural/educational programs for the Romanian speaking minorities in Ukraine Preservation and reconstruction of the Romanian speaking minorities in UkraineOrganizing cultural or educational projects involving both the Romanian diaspora in Ukraine and the Ukrainian community members located in Romania, for a better understanding and cooperation in the sphere of civil society

JOINT INITIATIVES OF KYIV AND BUCHAREST POLICY-MAKERS SUCCESSFUL FOR THE EU





Cooperation within the Eastern Partnership

Energy CooperationEnergy cooperation and know-how exchange in the construction of hydroelectric, nuclear, coal mining and in the European pollution standardsParticipation in the construction of transit routes for hydrocarbons in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, perhaps even of those in RussiaInterconnecting energetic projects from Romania in the EU energy programEncouraging the business sector development

Combating Illicit TraffickingCommon work groups regarding the visa situationCombating illicit trade and trafficking across the border






Strategic CooperationRegional cooperation between Ukraine and Romania and transfer of know-how in order to bring Ukraine closer to European values

Ukraine to support the pro-European direction that Romania has been following as a member of the Eastern periphery of the EU

The involvement of Romania and Ukraine as regional actors active in the negotiations on the conflict in Transnistria

Economic and military cooperation in the region

Exchanges of good practices (in institutional reform area, democracy and human rights)






Common environmental projectsActive involvement in the Danube strategy of transportation, tourism and environment infrastructure initiatives

Projects to improve water quality in the Black Sea. Common environmental projects with a strong research component.

JOINT INITIATIVES OF KYIV AND BUCHAREST POLICY-MAKERS SUCCESSFUL FOR THE GLOBAL

AGENDA





Cross Border Cooperation

NATO military cooperation

Cooperation on Global Climate Change

Agriculture and food cooperation in order to participate in the UN agenda to fight hunger

THE ROLE OF GROUPS OF PROFESSIONALS FROM DIASPORA AS AS YOUNG LEADERS





A positive one

The work and projects of these young leaders, have or at least

should have an impact on local communities of the two countries

where they operate.

At the grass-root level the image in both countries undergoes

positive changes.

Success models that must be replicated in other regions.

Media is expected to report about them so then the phenomenon

can be extended nationwide.

At that moment in time the authorities could no longer ignore

these issues and will need to take action.

THE ROLE OF GROUPS OF PROFESSIONALS FROM DIASPORA AS AS YOUNG LEADERS





A positive one

Their work will certainly have a positive role at a certain time

in the future thus governments support in both country will be

decisive.

A rather insignificant one

Resistance at government level is significant

Rather difficult to change public perception

AREAS OF COOPERATION WITH MOST SIGNIFICANT EFFECT





Mutual cultural awareness

Cooperation at think-tanks & academia

level

Ecology

Education

NGOs

Investor Relations

Romania-Ukraine Relations. Bucharest Workshop