Which challenges must we consider when it comes to Ukrainian accession to the EU? Nadija Afanasieva in the podcast Central Europe Explained
Which challenges must we consider when it comes to Ukrainian accession to the EU?
How can macro-regional strategies such as the EUSDR strengthen short-term perspective for regional future in post-war Ukraine?
Nadija Afanasieva (Ukrainian Institute for International Politics) and Sebastian Schäffer (Institut für den Donauraum und Mitteleuropa (IDM) discussed these and other issues in the CEE (Central Europe Explained) podcast.Some topics they talked about:
Challenges and new opportunities in the framework of Ukrainian EUSDR Presidency
- After the the full-scale war has started, the National Coordinator of Ukraine in the EUSDR, Ihor Korkhovyi, informed the EUSDR member states that Ukraine could not fulfill its obligations and fully implement the plan of Ukrainian Presidency.
- We are currently participating in various meetings and planning of the 2022 Annual EUSDR Forum. The format of the Forum is still being discussed, but the good news is that it will happen for sure!
- Slovakia and Slovenia, as members of the trio presidency, support Ukrainian presidency at such a difficult time.
- New opportunities related to the potential granting of Ukraine the status of the EU candidate country are also being discussed
- New opportunities are emerging, in particular, the growth of cooperation not only within the framework of the EUSDR, but also in synergy with the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.
Funding for projects with Russia and Belarus in the framework of cross-border cooperation was planned in 2021. After the participation of these countries was suspended, funds can be redistributed among other projects, including those with the participation of Ukraine.
Listen to the podcast and find out what benefits and opportunities for Ukrainian development implies the potential status of the EU candidate country.
Read also the policy paper "A European (Regional) Future for Ukraine" at the link.