Parallels and Divergences of Integration

postcommunist transition  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’ 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 UkraineInstitutional Definition & Foreign Policy Initiatives Org. characteristicsEUCIS 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 Cooperation Council - Cooperation Committee - Parliamentary Cooperation Committee - Subcommittees ENP 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 (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 participation founding member of GUUAM (balancing) NR: not relevant

BelarusInstitutional Definition & Foreign Policy Initiatives Org. characteristicsEUCIS 1) increased interaction among organisations in the field Until 1996: developing relations with EU: PCA & temporary trade agreement concluded Since 1996: NR Institutional 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 concluded Since 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 CIS Belarus – 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 NRZealous 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 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