Eastern Neighbours Research Articles

The impact of the Russian–Ukrainian conflict on Green Deal implementation in central–southeastern Member States of the European Union

AbstractThe purpose of this work is to highlight the views of epistemic communities, but also to support the political decision‐makers for the elaboration and implementation of the Green Deal in the central–southeastern part of the European Union. The investigated states were chosen from the last enlargement's waves. The analysis of this article illustrates the capacities of the Member States from the investigated region to implement the Green Deal and to adapt the involved policies to the new architecture's security from the Eastern neighborhood. The improvement of food and energy security, environmental protection, and the industrial production supply chain, but also social protection and international cooperation, are among the policy recommendations revealed by this study.

Fuelling the Fire: Rethinking European Policy in Times of Energy and Climate Crises

The European Union’s relative disregard for the economic, geopolitical and climatic concerns of its peripheral Eastern countries has contributed to making the war in Ukraine possible. Its consequences are now returning in the form of energy dependence and economic instability on the Union as a whole and the risk of economic crisis and deindustrialisation. This should prompt a re-assessment of the EU’s strategy towards its eastern neighbours, particularly in the energy and climate policy field. This evaluation starts from the issue of control over cheap energy as a key material foundation of state and interstate power. On this basis, we analyse the struggle between Russia and the European core states over Ukraine in terms of the ability to extract an economic surplus through the unequal exchange of energy. The current escalation should be understood as an attempt by the Russian petrostate to preserve the economic basis of its regime, which is threatened by the prospect of a low-carbon transition in Europe. We conclude that a massive acceleration of the transition away from fossil fuels is the key to economic, geopolitical and climate stabilisation, highlighting possible policy instruments the EU could use to secure its production system and protect citizens’ security.

Governance improvement by sectoral cooperation: toward a framework of policy designs for the Eastern neighbourhood

ABSTRACT This article explores the potential of the EU’s sectoral cooperation for the advancement of good governance by exploring the relationship between alternative policy designs and types of target country regime contexts in the Eastern neighbourhood. Informed by the scholarship on policy instrument choice and political settlements analysis, this research offers a framework of policy designs that match instrument mixes with specific implementation arenas. Once rigorously tested, it will be able to shed light on how the ENP’s sectoral cooperation could be attuned to elicit desirable feedback effects on governance improvement in the Eastern neighbourhood.

Beyond Downloading: Venues for Associated Neighbouring Countries to Influence EU Law and Policies

AbstractThe European Union (EU) has over time developed close relations, typically taking the form of acquis‐based association agreements, with the countries in its Western and Eastern neighbourhood. This article examines when, where and how these non‐Member States can influence the terms of their association with the EU's law and policies via institutional venues. It expands on the literature of external Europeanization and governance, which has mainly focused on the downloading of EU rules by these countries. Yet, the associated neighbours have the opportunity to exert influence at different stages of the law or policy‐making process: first, before the downloading of relevant new rules by uploading or cross‐loading, that is, by attempting to initiate or shape these rules during the agenda‐setting and the formulation phases; and second, during or after the downloading by tweaking or rebuffing relevant new rules in the adoption and implementation phases. These mechanisms of influence at different points in time and in different bodies are illustrated by examples from the countries of the European Free Trade Association, of the Eastern Partnership and in the EU's customs union. The findings indicate that more uploading opportunities can generally be expected, the more downloading is required, and the better the associated countries' access to EU bodies in the early stage of the formulation of new rules. Weak uploading opportunities make joint bodies more important for tweaking and rebuffing. The proposed conceptual framework contributes to the study of external differentiated integration and opens new research avenues.

Implementasi Nilai Pendidikan Islam dalam Meminimalisir Perilaku Konsumtif pada Remaja

This study aims to describe the consumptive behavior of adolescents in Palattae Village, Kahu District, Bone Regency; and the Implementation of the value of Islamic education on adolescent consumptive behavior in Palattae Village, Kahu District, Bone Regency. This research is included in the type of naturalistic research using a qualitative approach. The subjects in this study were the people of Palattae Village, the northern neighborhood, the middle neighborhood, the eastern neighborhood, and the southern neighborhood who represented the research informants. While the object of research is the consumptive behavior of adolescents in Palattae Village by using a purposive sampling technique. The results showed that of 14 teenagers, there are 11 teenagers have minimized their consumptive behavior because they are able to buy goods based on their needs, buy something in moderation, are more interested in shopping in the market than shopping online because of shipping discounts, not buy goods because the packaging is unique, cute and attractive and does not follow current trends or fashions. Then there are 3 teenagers who do consumptive behavior; it can be concluded that in the indicator of the value of faith there are 14 teenagers who have implemented the value of faith in shopping. In the indicators of the value of worship, there are 11 teenagers who have implemented the value of worship in shopping, then there are 3 teenagers who have not implemented the value of worship. In the indicators of moral values, there are 10 teenagers who have implemented moral values, there are 4 teenagers who have not implemented moral values.

Europe’s Places and Spaces: Claudio Magris Between East and West

ABSTRACT This article analyses the central themes in the works of Claudio Magris through a critical reading of Danube, A Different Sea, Microcosms, Utopia e disincanto [Utopia and disenchantment], Blindly, Journeying, and Alfabeti [Alphabets]. Magris’s work, be it his fiction or essays, abounds with descriptions and narrations of spaces and places, which become central to his world-view as an author. These spaces and places, located primarily in Central Europe and in the surroundings of his own city, Trieste, inspired his turn to Eastern Europe, including the Slavic countries. Conscious of the Western Europeans’ often condescending view of the East, Magris became a vocal critic of Western Eurocentrism, which he attributed to their insufficient familiarity with the cultures and histories of their Eastern neighbours. Magris’s primary interest has always been Europe’s ethnic and cultural coexistence, with a particular affinity with dissident, nationless, and exiled literary figures, in line with his notion of hybrid, fluid, and multiple identities. The works of Magris offer compelling reflections on a Europe viewed through the contradictory encounters between East and West. As such they have contributed to the gradual creation of hybrid identities, which, through their historical palimpsests, have become part of a broader cultural geography.

Volunteering in the front line of the Ukrainian refugee crisis: A brief report from Poland.

This study aims to analyse the experiences and motivations of volunteers who supported Ukrainian refugees who fled to Poland. Our study was conducted among 196 volunteers in Poznan, Poland who answered questions regarding their experiences with voluntary service during the current refugee crisis and the reasons they became involved in volunteer efforts. We found that although the Polish state had no prior experience in welcoming refugees on a mass scale, the Russo-Ukrainian War has resulted in the emergence of “spontaneous volunteers” who have offered their help and assistance to the flood of refugees sweeping in from its eastern neighbor. We also found that because many Polish citizens believe that helping those in need should not rest solely on the government there are two main motivations to volunteer: a general willingness to help and the willingness to volunteer on behalf of Ukrainian refugees. Finally, while this study highlights that in times of crisis, most people are primarily motivated by humanistic and democratic values, including altruism and public service, emotions also play an important role in influencing people's decision to engage in voluntary service.

Informal compliance mechanisms in the EU ‘development’ and ‘integration without membership’ association agreements: a quest for capacity and ownership?

ABSTRACT Association Agreements between the EU and third countries lie at the heart of the EU’s foreign policy. The Association Agreements the EU concluded with Eastern Neighbours and the Caribbean Forum and Central American countries are marked with partner countries’ ambitious obligations, and the multi-instrument toolbox the EU applies to ensure partner countries’ compliance, including official consultations and dispute settlement. Nevertheless, the EU has demonstrated to prefer informal compliance instruments, such as statements or informal meetings in both the ‘integration without membership’ and ‘development’ contexts. The article focuses on the rationale behind the EU’s preference for ‘soft’ compliance instruments. It isdemonstrates that the European Commission and Delegations may in many cases prioritize partners’ commitment to and ownership of change over a particular result (compliance), despite being able to make use of the asymmetries of its power relations with partner countries. The confluence of the EU’s or Member States’ strong interest in a partner country’s compliance with a specific obligation and the persistence of non-compliance will, nonetheless, lead to the recourse to formalized compliance mechanisms. The focus on the management perspective of compliance in isolation from formal enforcement mechanisms is presented as hardly possible, notwithstanding the EU’s quest for ownership.

Kitajskij vektor strategii «Povorot na Vostok» v politicheskom diskurse Rossii

The article is devoted to the political discourse of the Russian Federation in relation to the role of China in the strategy of “Turning Russia to the East”. The author assesses the effectiveness of “information and explanatory work”, which allows informing the population of both countries about the causes and goals of national foreign policy and cooperation. The author comes to the conclusion that China’s foreign policy concepts have a significant constructive influence on Russia’s position, as a result of which the Russian Federation has “changed for the better” its attitude towards the “Eastern neighbor”.

Fisheries genomics of snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) along the west Australian coast.

The efficacy of fisheries management strategies depends on stock assessment and management actions being carried out at appropriate spatial scales. This requires understanding of spatial and temporal population structure and connectivity, which is challenging in weakly structured and highly connected marine populations. We carried out a population genomics study of the heavily exploited snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) along ~2600 km of the Australian coastline, with a focus on Western Australia (WA). We used 10,903 filtered SNPs in 341 individuals from eight sampling locations to characterize population structure and connectivity in snapper across WA and to assess if current spatial scales of stock assessment and management agree with evidence from population genomics. Our dataset also enabled us to investigate temporal stability in population structure as well as connectivity between WA and its nearest, eastern jurisdictional neighbour. As expected for a species influenced by the extensive ocean boundary current in the region, low genetic differentiation and high connectivity were uncovered across WA. However, we did detect strong isolation by distance and genetic discontinuities in the mid‐west and south‐east. The discontinuities correlate with boundaries between biogeographic regions, influenced by on‐shelf oceanography, and the sites of important spawning aggregations. We also detected temporal instability in genetic structure at one of our sites, possibly due to interannual variability in recruitment in adjacent regions. Our results partly contrast with the current spatial management of snapper in WA, indicating the likely benefits of a review. This study supports the value of population genomic surveys in informing the management of weakly structured and wide‐ranging marine fishery resources.

Main directions of the development of the relations of the Republic of Moldova with the European Union in the context of the Eastern Partnership

The Republic of Moldova participation in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) platform has enabled to make significant progress in country’s development over the past decade. The enhancing and deepening relationships with the EaP countries and the European Union (EU), along with the implementation of diverse programs and initiatives drawn up by the EU within the framework of the Eastern Neighborhood Policy has brought its tangible results and benefits. The signing of the Association Agreement with the EU has become an important integral part of the constructive political dialogue between the Republic of Moldova and EU, which cover all cooperation areas in their interest. The creation of the DCFTA had a favorable impact on the increase in Moldovan exports to the EU countries, trade in services, competitiveness of Moldovan products and intensified trade and economic relations between the parties. Visa liberalization regime, technical and financial support from the EU has created a number of advantages for the country andits citizens. The development of relationships between the Republic of Moldova and EU has been characterized by ups and downs – from the ”success story” of the Eastern Partnership to a crises and stagnation period. The difficulties of cooperation were due to internal political crises, inconsistency of government’s actions and low level of democratic development coupled with high level of corruption of Moldovan officials. The new stage of development has been emerged with the coming to power in Moldova in 2020-2021 of pro-European forces. This new phase will be based on a pragmatic dialogue and acceleration of integration processes

Bucharest, 19 February/3 March 1886: “…anyone understands how shaky and little durable this peace will be”

"Only several years after the war of 1877-1878 between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire, in which Romania had also been involved and had had an important role, succeeding in gaining its state independence, the situation in the Balkan Peninsula experienced new tense moments. Against the background of the so-called Bulgarian crisis in the late ’80s of the 19th century, in which Russian interests played again an important part, along with the involvement of other Great Powers, an armed conflict between Serbia and Bulgaria took place in November 1885, causing a general concern at the continental level. Situated in the immediate vicinity of the conflict, Romania tried to contribute to its resolution, wanting to avoid a new Russian invasion and a tension of the relations with its powerful eastern neighbour. The choice of Bucharest as a venue for peace negotiations and the signing of the treaty between Serbia and Bulgaria was also a sign of the appreciation and prestige enjoyed by the Romanian state and King Carol I, primarily due to the balanced and prudent approach shown in the foreign policy and international relations. However, at the level of the Romanian historiography, the erroneous perception of an important role that Romania would have played in the completion of the conflict and the signing of the peace in Bucharest was established for some time, a perception contradicted by the historical realities and the testimonies from that period. Keywords: Bulgarian crisis, Serbian-Bulgarian war, Romanian Kingdom, Carol I, the Bucharest peace. "

Poland’s Foreign Policy Under the Rule of the Law and Justice Party

Poland was the first country in Central Europe to start dismantling the political system of ‘real socialism’ in 1989 and has become a pioneer of democratic and market reforms. After 10 years it was admitted to NATO and after 15 years to the European Union. Then, gradually, populism, nationalism and Euro-skepticism began to grow in Poland, which was evident in the years 2005-2007, during the first edition of rules of the conservative-nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party. After the next eight years of the pragmatic approach of the Polish governments towards European integration, the PiS assumed full power in the country in 2015. The new president and the PiS government began systematic changes in domestic and foreign policy. Populism, illiberalism and authoritarianism began dominating in Polish internal politics, and nationalism and Euro-skepticism in foreign policy. The most important new phenomena in the foreign policy of the PiS government are: (a) the bi-lateralization and militarization of security policy based on the strategic partnership with the US; (b) Euroskepticism: anti-Brussels posturing and disputes with Germany and France; (c) Poland’s nationalistic and great-power approach to Russia; and (d) Three Seas Initiative as a dream of Poland’s greatness. The consequences of this Poland’s politics are detrimental to itself and to the international environment. It has reduced the importance of Poland as a state in Europe and the world. The world’s perception of Poland is increasingly unfavorable among democratic countries, and more favorable among other illiberal countries. But it is not favorable with all illiberal countries, because the nationalism that accompanies Polish illiberalism makes it impossible to improve relations with other not fully democratic or downright undemocratic countries, especially Poland’s eastern neighbors. Poland’s foreign policy is facing serious challenges, some of which Poland created on its own and is unable to address effectively. This means that there is a growing problem of incompatibility between Poland’s policies and the changing international order.

The European Union’s Transformative Power in the Countries of the Eastern Partnership

Abstract The article examines the Eastern Partnership (EaP) as the initiative of the European Union (EU) through the prism of the constructivist concepts of soft power, normative power and transformative power. The research focuses on the assessment of the EU’s transformative strength in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus, based on the analysis of declared EU policy goals and instruments and the real results of political reforms in partner countries. The results of the study show that the EaP has little transformative impact and needs further revision. The analysis of empirical indicators in the field of political transformation of the EaP countries shows that since its inception, as well as after the signing of Association Agreements with three countries and the renewal of the European Neighborhood Policy in 2015, no radical changes have been made, and the EU’s influence on the course of reforms has been insignificant. Institutional and geopolitical constraints and challenges that complicate the EU’s ability to influence its eastern neighbours are addressed. The article analyses prospects for strengthening the effectiveness of the EaP in the context of its latest update after 2020.

Analysıs of the “associated trio” as a backfire effect of Russia’s foreign policy of near abroad

The attempts of the European Union (EU) to engage its eastern neighbors into the European integration after the last eastward expansion in 2007 were found to be largely unsuccessful. The sensitivity of the issue for Russia and the failure of the EU’s eastern neighbors to carry out necessary reforms were among the main reasons that impeded the progress in the European integration of these states. However, on May 17, 2021, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine have come up with a new initiative aimed at revitalizing the European agenda through enhancing mutual cooperation and coordination in issues of common interest related to European integration. The study argues that by counterposing itself to the West and attempting to retain its old paradigm of its area of geopolitical influence in the “near abroad” Russia has greatly contributed to the cooperation between Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine and the establishment of the “Associated Trio” format. As a result of similar interventions to these states jeopardizing their security, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine have developed a strong common anti-Russian agenda, which served as one of the driving forces in their European aspirations. At the same time, the mobilization of the three members of the new initiative was made possible thanks to democratization and reforms imposed from the outside and pushed from inside. Key words: Associated Trio, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, European integration.

Biomarkers reveal Eocene marine incursions into the Qaidam Basin, north Tibetan Plateau

The easternmost extent of the large epicontinental Proto-Paratethys Sea is recorded in Eocene sediments of the Tarim Basin in western China. However, sporadic reports of marine-derived coccoliths in its eastern neighbor Qaidam Basin, which is conventionally considered to be an isolated lacustrine basin, cast doubt on this assumption. Here we present biomarker data on a core drilled in westernmost sector of the Qaidam Basin, which reveals the presence of 24-n-propylcholestane (24-npc), a biomarker hydrocarbon derived from marine algae, whose patchy stratigraphic distribution chronicles the development of ephemeral marine conditions. Biomarker proxies reveal a dynamic system where the Qaidam Basin was in intermittent communication with the Proto-Paratethys Sea via the Tarim Basin during the middle Eocene after which it became hydrographically isolated as a shallow and stratified non-marine environment in the Late Eocene.

UKRAINE – STUCK BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST

For some time now, Ukraine has been internally divided between those who support Russia and those who fight for the westernization of the country through its affiliation with NATO and the EU. Both the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) – and later the Eastern Partnership (EaP) policy – as well as Russia’s foreign policy, have been fuelling more and more this internal divide, with every strategy implemented by the EU in that direction leading to violent responses from Russia, which had very significant consequences on Ukraine. This paper aims to present, through qualitative analysis, the present geopolitical situation of Ukraine, which seems to be unable to move forward in a definitive direction. Throughout this essay I will analyse the events that led to the impasse in which Kyiv is stuck now, also touching upon the tense relation between the EU and Russia. Towards the end of the paper, further possible strategies and scenarios are suggested, considering and examining the tense situation in the whole Eastern Neighbourhood. Comparisons between other EaP states and Ukraine are also going to be presented in order to obtain a complete picture of the situation.

Distribution and Determinants of Serum Zinc, Copper, and Selenium Levels among Children under Five Years from Popokabaka, Democratic Republic of Congo: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Information about essential trace elements among children in many African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is limited. We aimed to measure the distribution and determinants of serum zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and selenium (Se) concentrations in a representative sample of children under five years old. We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study in Popokabaka, DRC. Blood samples were drawn from 412 children. The serum concentrations of minerals were measured using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. The median concentrations (P25–P75) of Zn, Cu, and Se were 61.9 µg/dL (52.8–70.2), 145.5 (120.0–167.0) µg/dL and 5.3 (4.3–6.3) µg/dL. The CRP-adjusted prevalence of serum Se deficiency was 84.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 81.4–87.0) and of Zn deficiency was 64.6% (95% CI 59.8–69.1%). Only a few children were Cu deficient [1.5% (0.6–3.2)]. Evidence of inflammation (C-reactive protein, >5 mg/L) was associated with a lower Se concentration and higher Cu concentration. Furthermore, serum Se concentration was positively associated with linear growth. The average Cu/Zn molar ratio (2:1) was twice that recommended. Children in western Popokabaka had higher Zn and Se levels than their eastern neighbors. Zinc and selenium deficiencies are common among children in Popokabaka and require attention and prioritization.

A new business as usual? The impact of the ‘resilience turn’ on the EU’s foreign policy and approach towards the eastern neighbourhood

ABSTRACT The last decade has seen the concept of resilience gradually positioned at the centre of the way the European Union (EU) seeks to deal with endogenous and exogenous challenges, threats or risks. Originating primarily from natural sciences, resilience has provided an elegant and attractive option for the EU to revise its agenda. The so-called ‘resilience turn’ has come to permeate almost every aspect of the EU’s discourse. In this context, the article aims to analyse the nature of the policy change underlined by the way the concept of resilience has permeated the approach developed by the EU towards the eastern neighbourhood and foreign policy more broadly. Change evaluated by focusing on two key aspects that underpin the EU’s foreign policy: the scope of the EU’s foreign policy, EU’s understanding of the world order, with a particular focus on the role of geopolitics. The main finding of the article is the emphasis on resilience has induced only limited transformations in the EU’s practice and ideas, leading to the transition to a new business as usual.

Some results of the food strategy of Russia, China and Japan

The article presents a comparative macroeconomic analysis of the results of agricultural policy in the field of food security in Russia, China and Japan. Russia is significantly more provided with agricultural land — a factor of basic importance in food production than its eastern neighbors — China and Japan. In terms of gross agricultural production, China is the leader, especially in cereals and legumes, fruits, berries, citrus fruits and grapes, vegetables and melons, as well as eggs. For these products, China has full self-sufficiency, but at the same time it lacks its own production for potatoes, meat and milk. Japan is not provided with its own fruits, berries, citrus fruits and grapes, vegetables and melons, as well as meat and milk. Russia also lacks its own production of these products, with the exception of meat, with which it is fully provided. The average Russian citizen does not fully consume vegetables and melons, as well as milk and dairy products, for which there is a low level of self-sufficiency and economic accessibility in the country. The food strategies of the studied states testify to the importance of food supply in the system of national security and improving the quality of life of the population, combining their interests in organizing large agricultural organizations, state support for the development of agriculture with its full financial support, the formation of an economically sound agricultural policy for the development of agriculture as the basis of social stability, equating its products with the most important strategic resources.