Good news for Ukraine There is a clear will to negotiate, Ukraine is not only a candidate country, but has already begun the journey, is a European country whose place is in the EU
Malgorzata Bonikowska, political scientist, doctor of sciences, president of the Center for International Relations, associate professor at the European Center at the University of Warsaw, speaks about this in an interview with Sestry.
Maria Gurskaya July 1, Ukraine began negotiations on accession to the EU A unique case - a country that is fighting back the aggressor, at the same time going to the EU How do you, as an expert of the European Commission in the 2000s, and in the 1990s - an employee of the Committee on European Integration of Poland , you see this moment in the history of Ukraine and Poland
Małgorzata Bonikowska This is certainly a precedent. In the European Union, such a situation has never happened before. Not a single candidate country was in a state of open war, the only case of a country joining with border problems was the Republic of Cyprus.
But it was the war that led the EU, as a union of twenty-seven, to make decisions that were important for its history. Not only did it unequivocally condemn Russia and support a country that had been attacked and brutally invaded, but it also adopted more than a dozen packages of sanctions against Russia and introduced joint mechanisms of financial and military assistance to Ukraine
This is also a precedent in the European Union - joint purchases of weapons from the common budget, the so-called. European Peace Facility The EU has never done this before
This war caused a huge shock in the structures of the European Union. In response, concrete steps were taken, which culminated in the decision to expand and the rapid start of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova
Processes have begun that could not be moved for years, if not decades, are now taking place
What are the main tasks facing Ukraine during the negotiations?
If the war in Ukraine is an absolutely extraordinary situation, then the EU accession negotiation process is a standard procedure
Poland, like other countries that joined the EU, went through this. The point is that a country that wants to join the European Union agrees on the adoption of the entire legislative framework and the main principles of the functioning of the EU. So, these are negotiations in which the position of the country is negotiator is weak because, as a rule, in the end that country still has to accept everything
The only question is how quickly and to what extent Negotiations take place on the basis of clearly defined principles There are 35 negotiating sections, and they relate to individual areas of the functioning of the state, such as agriculture, environmental protection, education, economics, health Negotiations concern how quickly and to what extent will a country that wants to join the EU adapt to EU legislation and internal rules
Transitional periods are possible, that is, slower adaptation. In exceptional cases, exceptions are possible, that is, the so-called. derogation from EU rules For example, Malta has additional guarantees against the purchase of property by citizens of other countries
Where the biggest problems lie in the case of Ukraine
First of all, this is corruption - a huge problem. We are talking about the functioning of the entire state according to habits that were formed back in Soviet times
The organization of the state largely relies on agreements and oligarchy, and society is accustomed to this. Corruption, of course, exists everywhere in a small percentage, also in the EU, but such cases are stigmatized. There is a mechanism for holding people accountable for such situations
However, these are absolute exceptions and they are clearly condemned. By joining the EU, Ukraine will have to adjust the functioning of the state, rely on strong institutions and transparent procedures
How long can the integration of Ukraine last, and is it realistic to introduce changes during the war simultaneously with defense?
The EU is aware that war is an additional challenge that places a huge burden on the Ukrainian state
But at the same time, Ukraine receives significant military and financial assistance. Therefore, it is important that there is no doubt where this assistance goes, so that it is not subject to corruption mechanisms. When we talk about the plan for restoring Ukraine after the war, we think not only about where to get funds, on what scale and how to modernize the country, but also how to ensure these funds so that they do not flow “outside” into private hands
This is important, and I believe that one of the methods is close cooperation with foreign advisers from EU countries, including Poland
On the eve of the start of negotiations, the President of Ukraine approved a delegation to participate in accession negotiations with the EU, which included officials, diplomats and experts. How important is the composition of this group, what skills should these people have?
A negotiating group is a formal structure created by the government of a country that is joining the EU
Each negotiation area is headed by one vice-minister, who coordinates the work of the whole group. It includes persons who have significant knowledge about the areas under discussion. Most often, these are people appointed by the relevant ministries - ministry employees, or external experts. These are the people who use their professional knowledge , must assess the consequences of the implementation of EU rules in Ukraine and their impact on individual areas. Their role is to analyze whether slowdowns or even deviations from EU rules are necessary, and if so, to what extent, and how to prepare the legal framework in your country to make the necessary changes
Ukraine is subject to a screening process, that is, an analysis of the entire legal situation for disagreements, holes in legislation, lack of regulations and the need to develop new ones. The team of negotiators will give recommendations on the creation of regulatory documents that will have to be submitted to the Ukrainian parliament. As a result of the negotiations, the legal situation of Ukraine should be as close as possible to the EU legal order so that there are no disagreements at the time of accession
We are talking about the so-called. “Acquis communautaire”, that is, all legal norms, guidelines, standards that a member state must adhere to. However, at the same time, each country has the right to agree on a longer period for the introduction of these rules in areas that are difficult for it. In the case of Poland, for example , it was environmental legislation, because it set too high demands on us at that stage of the country's development. We joined the EU in 2004, and the transition period lasted until 2017, because we understood that we would not be able to implement all EU standards faster this area
The Ukrainian side, together with the EU, must find issues that present obvious difficulties and agree on an extended period for the implementation of EU norms in this area
According to experts, negotiations with the EU take an average of 5-7 years. But at the same time, the war in Ukraine contributes to the turbo speed of Ukraine’s path to the West. How long can the process of negotiations and accession to the EU last in our case?
And all because the EU is already a rather complex organization, which includes as many as 27 countries with significant differences among themselves, including in terms of political structure. And the entry of each new country means additional challenges. Therefore, the EU is trying to prepare both itself and joining country at this point, minimize differences because the greater the differences, the greater the internal problems for the EU as a whole
We cannot allow a situation where expansion undermines the entire structure from within.
There are a lot of concerns on the part of the EU in the context of the next enlargement. We do not want weakening, but only strengthening of our community. This is why negotiations with Ukraine will be long and difficult. In the case of Poland they lasted five years, and in the case of Spain - almost eight, shorter were in Greece (four years and five months, - ed.)
Ukraine is a large and populous country. And a big country means big problems. Just look at the situation in agriculture and the conflict between Poland and Ukraine over grain. there will be more such situations in many other areas. Even without a war, there are many challenges between Ukraine and the EU, so negotiations will not happen easily, and the moment of Ukraine’s accession to the EU will be difficult for both sides
What good news for Ukraine
The good news is that there is a clear will to negotiate, that Ukraine is not only a candidate country, but has already begun the journey, and all twenty-seven EU member states are convinced that Ukraine is the European country that should one day be member of the European Union
This is very good news for Ukraine A few years ago there was no such prospect. Today this is a reality that is materializing before our eyes.
What will Poland's demands be in negotiations with Ukraine? What will win - partnership or competition?
Ukraine is negotiating not with individual countries, but with the European Commission
The process is the responsibility of the European Commission and the Directorate General for Enlargement, which negotiates on behalf of all member states. The main idea is that the EU wants to expand and wants to someday accept Ukraine
However, the approaches of EU countries to specific issues related to Ukraine's accession to the EU differ depending on their own situation. There are countries in which agriculture is a very important part of the economy and strong, such as Poland, France and Italy, and there are those where agriculture is of marginal importance, such as Luxembourg
Therefore, the challenges that Ukrainian agriculture poses to the EU are key for some countries, and less important for others. It is similar in other areas
Each member state analyzes this through its own situation and provides the European Commission with certain comments and suggestions regarding its advantages or caveats. It is about preserving the interests and position of certain sectors and groups - entrepreneurs, farmers, the financial industry, the automotive industry - both in the EU and in Ukraine So this is a process of agreeing on very narrow details, very specific technical issues
In some ways, the negotiation process will seem like a step back for Ukraine. The point is that because of the war, Ukraine suddenly became part of the European market at an accelerated pace, because the European Union decided to help the Ukrainian economy by removing trade barriers. But this was a temporary decision, forced by the Russian invasion and desire provide Ukraine with the opportunity to survive
This also applies to work permits, free movement of people. At one time, during negotiations with the EU, Poland took a particularly long time to agree on this, and we still did not manage to get the opportunity to act freely on the European labor market from the first day of membership
The only two countries that gave us such an opportunity at that time were Great Britain (which was then in the EU) and Ireland. All other countries on the EU side introduced a seven-year transition period, which meant that Poles could not work in EU countries without additional permits and procedures related to their employment
Because of the war, Ukrainians received the opportunity to freely move and work. In Poland they received a PESEL number, which means that they can legally do work, pay taxes and, most importantly, do not have to obtain any other permits
This would not have happened if not for the war
How Poland can help Ukraine during negotiations
I believe that Poland can do two things for Ukraine. Firstly, we have actually gone through a similar process, so we have fresh practical experience that we can share. We negotiated accession to the EU in 1998-2003. People who were involved in this process, active today They may be asked to consult, for example, as advisers to the Ukrainian government, in order to make the process as professional and effective as possible
Secondly, Poland, which is clearly interested in Ukraine joining the EU, can be a bridge for Ukraine. Not all EU countries have such a clear vision of the future of the EU with Ukraine inside. Of course, the will is there, but some countries have very big reservations about how Ukraine functions and what does it actually give?
For example, Germany has many doubts. Therefore, Poland today can play the role of a bridge that will also unite the cultural and historical proximity of our peoples. We can fulfill a similar role that Germany played for Poland in the late 1990s
They wanted expansion, and helped Western Europe not only recognize that it was inevitable, but also see the benefits. Today Poland can do the same for Ukraine
How Poland can help Ukraine during negotiations
I believe that Poland can do two things for Ukraine. Firstly, we have actually gone through a similar process, so we have fresh practical experience that we can share. We negotiated accession to the EU in 1998-2003. People who were involved in this process, active today They may be asked to consult, for example, as advisers to the Ukrainian government, in order to make the process as professional and effective as possible
Secondly, Poland, which is clearly interested in Ukraine joining the EU, can be a bridge for Ukraine. Not all EU countries have such a clear vision of the future of the EU with Ukraine inside. Of course, the will is there, but some countries have very big reservations about how Ukraine functions and what does it actually give?
For example, Germany has many doubts. Therefore, Poland today can play the role of a bridge that will also unite the cultural and historical proximity of our peoples. We can fulfill a similar role that Germany played for Poland in the late 1990s
They wanted expansion, and helped Western Europe not only recognize that it was inevitable, but also see the benefits. Today Poland can do the same for Ukraine
We don’t know how events will develop in the United States and who will win the elections. But, of course, an important part of thinking about the future of Ukraine will be thinking about the end of the war
While Ukraine is struggling, Europe must remilitarize at an accelerated pace in order to give Ukraine increased assistance. Everyone here is fighting against time, but not only us - Russia too. Look at the work of sanctions - it has already led to the fact that Gazprom has negative financial results, which means , Russia is slowly running out of financial resources to fight the war. The faster their economy goes into decline, the less money Putin will have to finance the war, and the faster it will end.
At some point, Russia will feel that it will not win this war and will sit down at the negotiating table. Otherwise, the negotiations will come down to the demands that Russia retain the captured territories and recognize Ukraine as a buffer territory between Russia and NATO
This is an unacceptable situation neither for Ukraine nor for the West
Countries from the so-called axis of evil, and together with them some countries of the global South, help Russia survive, despite sanctions. How to deal with this
This is a question of the scale of Western diplomacy, but here we have not such bad news. Look, in our camp there are Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea
As for other countries, we must negotiate and cooperate. Indeed, Russia is not alone, and has its friends, allies and countries with which it communicates. But these are not always countries hostile to the West. These are often neutral countries, or even partners of the West, such as, for example , India
We recently saw photographs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who went to visit Putin From India's point of view, this meeting was welcome, the West perceived it negatively Europe and the US should be very active in the countries of the global South Not only transit our narrative and our vision of war , but also put on the table specific proposals that are attractive to these countries than what comes from Russia
Russia doesn't have much to offer, only cheap energy and weapons. We may have a better offer.
What Europe will we live in in 5-10 years?
It depends on us and our decisions, and also on whether we will bend under the pressure we live under. Europeans are not used to living in conditions of constant threat
After World War II, Europe, without having a war on its territory, got used to the fact that economic issues are the most important and there are no other threats
Now Europeans live in constant stress - economic inequality disappoints people, the international situation causes fear. Suddenly it turned out that Russia, which seemed like a normal country, was very close, but it turned out that it was not. All this is a kind of soil for anxiety, disappointment, protests, anarchic behavior, all of which means that we may be internally destabilized
Which path will win, and what does it depend on, while Europe is still at the crossroads
I think people will not want to go back to the past and live worse. Our world is shaped by values, but also by the way we live and certain habits we have - for example, moving freely, living a safe, rich life, being together and cooperating in high-threat situations
We are going through difficult times, and they require the introduction of cooperation mechanisms within the EU and throughout the European continent
A lot depends on the leaders here. I see hope in the fact that in democracies there is not one, three or five heads, but many, many people who have good ideas. This is much more powerful than the principle of authoritarian systems, where everything is decided by the leader and his will
We can count on many wise heads and many wise concepts. We are already doing this, and all because the war in Ukraine has accelerated certain processes. We are seeing big internal changes in the European Union. NATO expansion continues, the EU enlargement process has begun, coordination of the EU military industry has been strengthened, Commissioner of Defense appointed
Ukraine is our catalyst for change for the better Europeans have always emerged from crises stronger
