Parallels and Divergences of Integration

• postcommunist transition 1991- 2005 formal political institutions

• disparate institutional development & parallels of integration

• Divergent institutional definition of Ukraine and Belarus vis-à-vis EU and CIS

• Belarus-Russian Union State• reasons divergences & parallels of integration

Ukraine• Complicating factors: - Soviet legacy &- Chaos surrounding independence • Critical juncture: Constitution 28 June 1996

Belarus• institutional paralysis until 1994 • Lukashenka: institutional ‘reforms’• 1995 - 1996 referenda: critical juncture

Comparison:

1) divergence in institutional development- Belarus: amended constitution > referenda increased presidential powers- Ukraine: 1996 constitution limited presidential powers

2) divergence in foreign policy orientations

Systematic assessment of institutional definition: Ukraine

Ukraine Institutional Definition & Foreign Policy Initiatives

Org. characteristics EU CIS

1)increased interaction among organisations in the field

Declared intention of becoming (associate) member of EU Institutional definition:- MFA: Department for European Integration, Section for EU Affairs - Verkhovna Rada: Committee on issues of European Integration-now: Vice-Prime Minister for Issues of European Integration (Ribachuk)- National Agency for Development and European Integration

reluctant member of CIS, yet participation in CIS integration process and some subregional initiatives (EvrAzES, CES)Institutional definition:-MFA: NR, no specific departments for CIS-Verkhovna Rada: NR, no specific committees

2) emergence of inter-organisational structures

PCA 1994, into force 1998-Cooperation Council-Cooperation Committee-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee-SubcommitteesENP 2004

Participation in CIS instit. structures: -Council of Heads of States / Governments-Council of Ministers (Foreign Affairs, Defence, …)-Interparliamentary Assembly CIS

3) increase in information load

Official documents & speeches:-‘Strategy for the Integration of Ukraine into the European Union’-numerous documents, speeches and reports asserting European ambitions of Ukraine- EU-Ukraine Action plan 2005-2007 (ENP)

Official documents: NR. no specific strategies towards CIS region. Only treaties: Belavezha Treaty (1991), Yalta Charter of GUUAM (1997), Treaty founding Eurasian Economic Community (2000), Pact on Common Economic Space (Sept 2003)

4) development of mutual awareness of being involved in a common enterprise

Intention of becoming member state of EU, initiatives from EU side: Common Strategy, Wider Europe/New Neighbours Initiative (bandwagoning)

NR; Reluctant CIS member, limited participationfounding member of GUUAM(balancing)

NR

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Belarus Institutional Definition & Foreign Policy Initiatives

Org. characteristics EU CIS

1) increased interaction among organisations in the field

Until 1996: developing relations with EU: PCA & temporary trade agreement concludedSince 1996: NRInstitutional definition: - MFA: NR, no specific department for EU integration (Although: Departament Evropy, but this is a department for European Affairs, mainly concerned with bilateral relations with European Countries)

Participation in CIS integration process and most subregional initiatives (EvrAzES, CES, Alma-Aty Declaration)Institutional definition:- MFA: Department for Russia and the Union State, Department for CIS and EvrAzES, Department for countries of CIS- Palata Predstaviteley: permanent commission for international affairs and relations with the CIS

2) emergence of inter-organisational structures

Until 1996: PCA & Interim trade agreement concludedSince 1996: NR ; PCA not ratified, sanctions

Participation in CIS instit. structures: -Council of Heads of States / Governments-Council of Ministers (Foreign Affairs, Defence, …)-Interparliamentary Assembly CISBelarus – Russia Union State: -Supreme State Council-Permanent Committee-Council of Ministers-Parliamentary Assembly,….

3) increase in information load

Official documents & speeches:- ‘The Enlargement of the EU and possible consequences for Belarusian foreign trade interests’- ‘Current Requirements of the EU-Belarus Relation’- ‘On the Relations with the European Union’

Official Documents & publications:- ‘Foreign Policy and economic priorities of Belarus in the light of the Union State with the Russian Federation’- ‘Cooperation in the Framework of the CIS’- ‘The Union State: Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow’, …

4) development of mutual awareness of being involved in a common enterprise

NR Zealous member of CIS, integration efforts with Russia, sees common enterprise as the instalment of neo-Soviet order

Systematic assessment of institutional definition: Belarus

Reasons for disparate institutional development

• History / socio-cultural factors

• Leadership

• Civil Society

• Foreign interest (economic-strategic)

Belarus-Russia Integration

• reasons for mirroring

- R-B integration: not coincidental (Rontoyanni)

- capacity supranational structures not stretched

strategy of parallel integrative processes

- political strategic/economic-strategic

• 1996: Community – Soobshchestvo

• Yeltsin re-election concrete accomplishments

April 1997: Union – Soyuz

• negotiations hostage to settlement Sheremet case

December 1999: Union State – Soyuznoe Gosudarstvo

• crisis August 1998 • 1999 Lukashenka: economic demands

• Popularity

• integration game (Drakokhrust)

tool for manoeuvre

political & economic advantages,

elections

sphere of influence

• Mirroring/parallels of integration:

economic objectives

political discourse

• Effective integration: harmonisation of foreign policy

Parallels of integration

• institutional mirroring: natural process

• CIS/EU organisational fields

- formal structures & institutions

- disparity:

a) level of integration

b) reasons for integration