IDM Policy Paper Series 1/2022
A European (Regional) Future for Ukraine
Nadija Afanasieva / Sebastian Schäffer
On 24 February 2022, the Russian Federation decided to further invade Ukraine and launched a full-scale attack on almost all regions in the country. The unjustified war of aggression against a neighbouring country has shocked the entire world and brought back a unity within the European Union. Four days later, on 28 February, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an official application for EU membership. Since then, there have been several discussions, amongst others to fast-track the accession. Such a procedure does not exist. Nevertheless, this does not mean that it is impossible. Yet there are some challenges and points to consider, which we summarize in this policy paper. We argue why a strengthening of the EU’s macroregional strategies and especially the EUSDR is much better suited for short-term support regarding the future of post-war Ukraine.
PS: Recommendations
1. Active cooperation of the Ukrainian EUSDR regions in DTP
2. Add new Ukrainian regions to participate in the EUSDR
3. Create synergies between the macroregional strategies and regional cooperation
4. Cross border cooperation (CBC) – a new stage without Belarus and the Russian Federation
PPS: Further information and links
Baltic Sea region transnational cooperation programme: https://bit.ly/37D8z0t
EUSDR: https://bit.ly/3OrcRss
Ukrainian Presidency: https://bit.ly/3K2R72N
Three Seas Initiative: https://bit.ly/3rGKeOp