Center for International and European Studies (CIES) | Kadir Has University (original) (raw)

Papers by Center for International and European Studies (CIES)

Neighbourhood Policy Paper, No. 9, Feb 2013

On the day (8 July 2010) that the European Parliament voted to approve the creation of the Europ... more On the day (8 July 2010) that the European Parliament voted to approve the creation of the
European External Action Service (EEAS), the High Representative of the Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy delivered her ‘Europe and the world’ speech in the Athens Concert
Hall presenting the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) as one of three priorities of the
European Union’s (EU) external action. Approximately two and the half year after the famous
speech, this article aims to examine the newly established EEAS’ collaboration with the member
states and other EU institutions for the purpose of advancing the EU’s interest in the Eastern
and Southern neighborhoods. The paper argues that the EEAS needs sufficient resources to
bring added value to the neighborhood policy. The Service’s effort to reconceptualize the ENP
as a tool through which the EU assists partner governments to conduct reforms could progress
if the EEAS overcomes the double standards in dealing with the neighbors. Ultimately, gaining
the trust of the member states, working closely with the Commission Directorates General and
maintaining the support of the European Parliament are preconditions for the new-born EEAS
to advance a qualitatively renewed ENP.

Neighbourhood Policy Paper (Russian version), no.5, Feb 2013

Переход от нефти к газу неизбежно привел к возникновению региональной энергетической политики с р... more Переход от нефти к газу неизбежно привел к возникновению региональной энергетической политики с растущим числом заинтересованных сторон, влияющих на формирование и обсуждение энергетической безопасности. То, что раньше было по преимуществу суверенным решением государства, теперь стало предметом дебатов, которые в силу ограничений геологических и политических, а также связанных с вопросами безопасности, могут оказать воздействие на успех политики. Региональный аспект энергетической политики является особенно действенным в отношении природного газа. В частности, это относится к большому географическому пространству, которое охватывает Восточное соседство, Средиземноморье, Черноморский и Каспийский регионы. При наличии в данном трехстороннем общем соседстве крупнейших в мире разведанных запасов газа, динамики политической деятельности по природному газу неизбежно объединяются, требуя принятия новых решений.

Neighbourhood Policy Paper, No. 8, Feb 2013

"The article examines the development of the EU’s transport policy within the framework of the E... more "The article examines the development of the EU’s transport policy within the framework
of the European Neighbourhood Policy and its extension to the EU’s Eastern and Southern
Neighborhoods, through the Union for the Mediterranean, the Black Sea Synergy and the
Eastern Partnership. The paper argues that the splitting of the EU’s transport policies among
many initiatives has not proven to be effective in achieving its goals. It underlines the fact,
that while the policies themselves are substantial, they rarely reach the implementation phase.
The important transport-related activities of the BSEC, UNECE and the private sector are
proposed to be taken into consideration by the EU and integrated into its policies."

Neighbourhood Policy Paper, No. 7, Feb 2013

The shift from oil to gas has inevitably led to the emergence of regional energy politics with a... more The shift from oil to gas has inevitably led to the emergence of regional energy politics with
a growing number of stakeholders involved in influencing and shaping the energy security
discussion. What used to be predominantly the sovereign decision of a state has now become
a subject of discussion which, owing to geological, political and often security constraints,
may have an effect on the success of a policy. The regional aspect of energy politics is
particularly potent with regard to natural gas. This is especially the case with regard to the
broader geographical space comprising of the Eastern Neighborhood, the Mediterranean and
the Black Sea/Caspian region. With the world’s largest proven gas reserves to be found in
this tripartite ‘Shared Neighborhood’, inevitably the dynamics of natural gas politics have
conflated, demanding new solutions.

Neighbourhood Policy Paper (Russian version), no. 4, Jan 2013

Стараясь закрепить отделение Абхазии и Южной Осетии от Грузии после войны 2008 г. Россия обещала... more Стараясь закрепить отделение Абхазии и Южной Осетии от Грузии после войны 2008
г. Россия обещала сыграть конструктивную роль в решении нагорного-карабахского
и приднестровского конфликтов. Цель этой статьи - дать оценку тому, как Россия
выполнила свои обновленные миротворческие обязательства. В ней также будет идти
речь о том, как Армения, Азербайджан и Молдова отреагировали на новые обязательства
России по возобновлению переговоров в составе Минской группы, на формат «5+2» или
иные формулы с непосредственным участием Москвы. В статье будет рассмотрено
то, как другие международные заинтересованные стороны адаптировались к пост-
конфликтной ситуации 2008г., а также раскрыты события, имеющие отношение к
процессу урегулирования конфликта в сепаратистских регионах. В завершение будут
проанализированы стратегии, перспективные для использования всеми сторонами и
региональными игроками в борьбе с конфликтами в странах Восточного партнерства,
а также, что можно предпринять в 2013 году для дальнейшего продвижения вперед
переговорного процесса.

Neighbourhood Policy Paper (Russian version), no. 3, Jan 2013

"В конце 2011 года Турция подписала два важных энергетических контракта. Как следствие, эти согл... more "В конце 2011 года Турция подписала два важных энергетических контракта. Как
следствие, эти соглашения вызвали новый виток конкуренции за газовые энергетические
проекты вокруг Турции. В этой статье дается оценка развития всех нынешних
и перспективных ситуаций в Черноморском регионе через призму роли Турции, ее
стратегии и приоритетов."

Neighbourhood Policy Paper, no. 06, Jan 2013

While working to seal off Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia after the 2008 war, Russia pro... more While working to seal off Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia after the 2008 war, Russia
promised to play a constructive role in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Transnistrian conflict. This
paper aims to assess how Russia delivered on its renewed peace-making pledge. It also will
spell out how Armenia, Azerbaijan and Moldova have reacted to the new Russian undertaking
to revive negotiations within the Minsk Group, the “5+2” format or other formulas with the
direct participation of Moscow. The paper will address how other international stakeholders
have adapted to the 2008 post-conflict situation and will uncover the developments relevant
for the conflict resolution process in the breakaway regions. It will conclude with an analysis
on prospective strategies to be employed by all sides and regional players in dealing with the
conflicts in the Eastern neighborhood and what could be done in 2013 to push the negotiations
forward.

Neighbourhood Policy Paper, no. 5, Jan 2013

Turkey signed two significant energy agreements at the end of 2011. As a consequence, these acco... more Turkey signed two significant energy agreements at the end of 2011. As a consequence, these
accords set off a new competition for natural gas-centered energy projects around Turkey.
Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Iran and the European Union are the main actors in this contest.
This paper aims to assess all the related and ensuing developments in the Black Sea Region
through the lenses of Turkey’s role, strategy and priorities.

Neighbourhood Policy Paper, no. 04, Jul 2012

This paper assesses the rationale behind and the potential of the ‘Eurasian Union’ project that i... more This paper assesses the rationale behind and the potential of the ‘Eurasian Union’ project that is
being promoted by Vladimir Putin. The author suggests that the project is connected with Russia’s tug
of war with the European Union (EU) regarding the common neighbourhood as well as its attempts
to secure a sphere of influence in Central Asia in order to counteract the perceived growing Chinese
threat. Russia’s policies towards Belarus and Ukraine are evaluated as both countries are particularly
relevant in assuring the successful implementation of the project. Finally, the author asserts that
Russia’s activism threatens the EU as it creates dividing lines between proponents of an interests based
policy towards Russia and those that consider values to be equally relevant.

Neighbourhood Policy Paper (Russian version), no. 02, Dec 2012

В этой статье дается оценка обоснованности и потенциальных возможностей проекта “Евразийский Сою... more В этой статье дается оценка обоснованности и потенциальных возможностей проекта
“Евразийский Союз”, который активно продвигается Владимиром Путиным. Автор публикации
полагает, что этот проект связан с “перетягиванием каната” между Европейским Союзом (ЕС)
и Россией по вопросам общего соседства, а также с попытками России обеспечить себе сферу
влияния в Средней Азии, чтобы противодействовать ощутимо растущей угрозе со стороны Китая.
Особая роль отводится российской политике в отношении Беларуси и Украины - как наиболее
актуальной для успешного претворения проекта в жизнь. В довершение, автор настаивает на
том, что активность России представляет опасность для ЕС, так как создает разделительные
линии между сторонниками политики прагматизма в отношении России и теми, кто считает,
что в равной степени должны учитываться также и базовые принципы и ценности.

Neighbourhood Policy Paper, no. 03, Jul 2012

This article looks at the first decade of the European Union’s (EU) neighborhood policy vis-à-vis... more This article looks at the first decade of the European Union’s (EU) neighborhood policy vis-à-vis
its Eastern neighbors. In this period, the EU undoubtedly developed and intensified its relations with
most of its eastern neighbors, but has hardly managed to ‘change’ them or significantly alter the
course of their development. The article looks into the successes and failures of the EU. It argues
that in the last decade the degree of interdependence in trade, security and political domain between
the EU and its neighbors increased dramatically. This made the EU become more involved than ever
in the political developments in its neighborhood. However the EU has not succeeded in turning its
growing political and economic presence into power, i.e., the ability to achieve what it wants. The
reasons for this include the political centralization among most of EU’s eastern partners; the fact that
these states did not commit to pro-EU policies, choosing instead ‘multi-vector’ foreign policies; and
the fact that the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was a third-tier priority for the EU.

Neighbourhood Policy Paper (Russian version), no. 01, Dec 2012

Статья рассматривает первое десятилетие политики соседства Европейского Союза (ЕС), направленной... more Статья рассматривает первое десятилетие политики соседства Европейского Союза (ЕС),
направленной на укрепление его связей с восточными соседями. За это время ЕС несомненно
расширил и активизировал отношения с большинством из своих восточных соседей, но мало
что смог изменить в них самих и в траектории их развития. В статье анализируются успехи
и провалы ЕС. Утверждается, что за последние десять лет существенно возрос уровень
взаимозависимости между ЕС и его восточными партнерами в области торговли, безопасности
и политики. Никогда раньше ЕС не был так сильно вовлечен в вопросы политического
развития региона. Но ЕС не удалось превратить свое растущее политическое и экономическое
присутствие во влияние, которое помогло бы ему добиться выполнения поставленных задач.
Среди причин называются политическая централизация власти в большинстве восточных
стран-партнеров, отсутствие в них поддержки политике ЕС, которой они предпочитают
многовекторную внешнюю политику, и тот факт, что Европейская Политика Соседства
(ЕПС) все это время была приоритетом всего лишь третьей степени значимости для ЕС.

Neighbourhood Policy Paper, no. 02, Dec 2011

Black Sea regionalism is a process that already has a twenty year lifespan. This paper presents a... more Black Sea regionalism is a process that already has a twenty year lifespan. This paper presents a snapshot
of the characteristics and dynamics of the cooperative processes that have emerged around the Black Sea
region and makes some policy recommendations aimed at rendering regionalism more efficient. It argues
that the geography and structure of cooperation should follow the principle of functional relationships. It
further on recommends that the priority for EU and other interested actors is to foster necessary facilitative
preconditions (economic, social and political) for cooperation that are still weak or absent rather than build
new top-down institutions.

Neighbourhood Policy Paper no. 01, Nov 2011

In the run-up to the 20th anniversary summit of the BSEC to be held in the summer of 2012, the pa... more In the run-up to the 20th anniversary summit of the BSEC to be held in the summer of 2012, the paper argues that
the continued relevance of the Organization in regional and European affairs now largely depends on its ability to
re-evaluate its past performance and to adjust to the requirements of the 21st century. The author advances a set of
practical suggestions, conceived as a contribution to the on-going debate on a new strategic design for the BSEC in the
next decade focusing on sustainability as ‘the new mantra’ of regional development. Concrete steps are detailed in the
priority areas where a cooperative approach in a regional format is desirable and realistically feasible by providing
value added compared to individual country efforts.

CIES Policy Brief, no.1, Dec 2011

This Policy Brief proposes a new idea of fully democratizing the Organization of Black Sea Econom... more This Policy Brief proposes a new idea of fully democratizing the Organization of Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC). In order to bring about improved democracy, the Parliamentary Assembly of BSEC
(PABSEC) would have popular elections to its chamber (with European Union assistance). The parliamentarians
would represent people via constituencies, as in the European Parliament, thereby allowing people of all
areas, including the conflict regions, to have their voices heard. The PABSEC would develop into a platform
for truly representative discussions of issues relevant to the people of the wider Black Sea region including
conflict resolution.
This paper is timely as it is almost the 20th anniversary of the BSEC and the Heads of State and Government
of the BSEC countries are expected to gather in June 2012. There is thus an opportunity before then for the
governments of the region (and the European Union) to consider our recommendations to reinvigorate the
BSEC and deepen its effectiveness and relevance.