Europa Wschodnia i Kaukaz Południowy – krucha stabilizacja
Eastern Europe and South Caucasus: A fragile stabilization
Author(s): Andrzej SzeptyckiSubject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, International relations/trade
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar Sp. z o.o.
Keywords: Eurasian Economic Union; conflict in Abkhazia; conflict in Donbas; conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh; conflict in Transdniestria; conflict in South Ossetia; post-annexation Crimea
Summary/Abstract: The year 2016 confirmed the trends observed earlier in Eastern Europe and South Caucasus. The region entered a period of fragile stabilization, although it was not a reason for particular optimism. First, no major political changes occurred in most of the countries in the region. The parliamentary election in Georgia confirmed the leadership of the Georgian Dream party. Only in Moldova the first direct presidential election in this country since 1996 can have a major influence on its domestic and foreign policy. Second, the military conflict in Donbas (Ukraine) deescalated, whilethe one in Nagorno-Karabakh turned briefly into an open war. Third, the region still faced economic problems, although most of the countries witnessed some signs of economic recovery. Fourth, the traditional division of the region between ‘pro-Western’ and ‘pro-Russian’ states was further relativized. Struggling with internal and external challenges, the European Union was unable to develop a coherent and transparent policy towards the region: the association agreement with Ukraine remained unratified, the abolition of the visa regime for Ukraine and Georgia was delayed, while the sanctions against the authoritarian Belarusian regime were de facto lifted. Azerbaijan and Moldova adopted a more favourable approach to Russia, while the relations of the latter with Belarus and Armenia became more difficult.
Journal: Rocznik Strategiczny
- Issue Year: 2016
- Issue No: 22
- Page Range: 168-182
- Page Count: 15
- Language: Polish