New Romania-Ukraine relations:towards friendship, cooperation and

alliance

View from Romania

Priorities for cooperation and partnership between Romania and Ukraine

Kyiv, December 2nd, 2011

Dear Ukrainian neighbour…

“In spite of our different social, ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, we do connect to each other in some key moments and Romania is compared, or wants to compare itself with Ukraine. Although we have our differences, we do acknowledge your country’s superiority in some domains, and its power of change, and we also want to emulate that…”

Dear Romanian neigbour..

“The Romanians need to pay tribute to their Romanian and European politicians, who no matter what, at different conflict times, were united around the single European direction of your country's development. But I am also happy to live in my home country where I probably feel most comfortable. Among my Ukrainian friends and among a large part of Ukrainian youth I meet people who want to live a European life. And these are the people who will be ruining the stereotypes about Ukraine in Romania or in any other country!”

“We can not change geography, we can not change the past, but together we can shape a common future in this region.”

Teodor Baconschi, Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister

Key drivers for cooperation

Strengthening economic, transport and energy co-operation

Intensified negotiations about the agreement on small border traffic

Relaunching the work of the intergovernmental commission monitoring the situation of the Romanian and Ukrainian minorities in both countries

Political dialogue, political consultations on European issues and cross-border economic projects

Priorities for cooperation

Territorial disputes settlement

Identity clarification within the European space to foster cooperation

Economic relations

Environmental policies

Academic exchange and cooperation

Territorial disputes settlement

The only way toward Europe is that of common sense and the elimination of interstate conflicts.

The Black Sea Sinergy – strategic bridge with cultural, political and economic dimensions

Programs for cooperation:The Black Sea NGO ForumEnvironment Partnership - a tool for revitalization of regional cooperation,

first sector of partnership under the Black Sea Synergy “label”

Demarcation of maritime borders and exclusive economic zones in the Black Sea with the involvement of international bodies in providing ways and means for an objective assessment of the situation

Programs for cooperation:Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation

Securing collaboration venues or common projects of the Romanian and Ukrainian border villages as well as avoiding the practice of an aggressive foreign politics

Programs for cooperation:Cross-border partnerships and project initiatives

Identity clarification within the European space to foster cooperation

Our countries presence in the European Union, a triumph not only for the people, but also for the Union itself.

The only path that can in the end bring far more productive relations between our people…

Eliminating ethnic and linguistic discrimination elements and provision for the national minorities in the two countries of a treatment according to European legislation

Recommended measures: - the right to education in the native language for minorities - protect minority rights - offer support to keep the identity, language and traditions Situation in Romania:Ukrainian minority in Romania is offered the right to be automatically

represented in Parliament. Their activities are publicly funded and they can attend Ukrainian schools.

Ukraine to foster closer relations with the European Union as well as an increased dialogue at the civil society level

Ukraine to approach the European standards, legal framework and the Council of Europe recommendations

Economic Relations

The search for peace, stability and prosperity underpins the EU’s policy towards its neighbourhood

The business related field - the most resourceful when it comes to building mutual relations for a win-win approach.

Programs for cooperation:Governmental cooperation between the two countriesJoint programsCooperation protocolsSupport in development of cooperation and partnership with Ukraine not only

bilaterally but also in European affairs, regional and global.

Development of business programs, involvement of the business sectorCompanies need to open to each other, to stimulate contacts between people,

investment and interconnectivity of energy networks. European funds for trilateral projects between Romania, Ukraine and Moldova: The

European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/funding_en.htm

Intensification of the economic diplomacy type relations

Involvement of both countries in joint projects in the Black Sea regionEnergy security - joint exploitation of oil and natural gas in previously disputed

areasOrganization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation

Environmental policies

…jointly explore possibilities of cooperation in the energy and environment sector. Environment security is a team sport!

Ecology related trendsAddressing environmental issues and

those related to the operation of the Danube basin and the protection of biodiversity in the Danube Delta as a priority over economic projects that may affect the biodiversity

Implementing common environmental projects at the Black Sea

Prospects of cooperation in preserving the eco-system of the Danube DeltaBenefits of improved relations between Romania and Ukraine include an agreement on the

collaborative monitoring and management of migratory birds and fisheries in the trans-boundary protected area, and development of a vegetation map of the entire Delta.

This bilateral initiative has served as a model for wider cooperation throughout Europe, and has been expanded under the recently declared lower Danube green corridor, whereby the Ministries of Environment of Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine have agreed to conserve and manage wetland and flood plain habitats of the region.

Cross-border natural park, support for regional developmentAn opportunity for the transboundary regions is represented by tourism development and

promotion, also turning the transboundary areas in tourist destinations. Outcomes:development of under-developed local communities (with mono-industrial activities farming,

mining) and diversification of the local economies; safer and better environment – eco-tourism brings sustainable development, it pose no danger to

the environment and also tourism can provide the highest economic growth and can create new green jobs for the locals

local human resources in the rural communities (courses of foreign languages, catering, management, courses for guides).

December 10th 2009, Viseul de SusCollaboration Agreement regarding establishment of the Romanian- Ukrainian Cross Border

Biosphere Reservation – the “Maramuresului Mountains”

Academic exchange

A small group of young students and ONE GREAT idea: bring the world closer!

The academic field - the most accessible area for fostering cooperation and enhancing bilateral relations.

The only level where youth has enough power and energy to actually change the perspective, understand the real extent of the neighbouring issues and transform the public perception.

The following program initiatives are potential drivers for academic collaboration:

Exchanges of the academic nature, partnerships between universities

Involvement of youth and students in educational and cultural collaboration in order to promote dialogue between Romania and Ukraine

Academic research projects

Leaders of change – global youth cooperation

What do they offer?

Energy, intelligence and unconventional resourcesEntrepreneurship rather than conventional

employmentNew and vibrant ideasInterest in trying out things and the patience to

learn from mistakesEasy problem recognition and orientation towards

real solutionsStrong forces in social movements

Leaders of change – global youth cooperation

What do they need?

To foster education in the practical aspects and complexities of policy-making;

To generate a greater exchange of views between young and seasoned professionals;

To promote cross-cultural interaction and cooperation among younger professionals;

To enrich dialogues with generational perspectives. 

Leaders of changePractices

Global Romania Society of Young Professionals Case study

Background - the year: 2006 - vision: enable connections among

people who work on similar issues/fields but live in different locations

- people: a group of Romanian students and young professionals living abroad

Leaders of changePractices

Public Policy

“improve public policies in Romania, by leveraging our global expertise and making use of best practices from across the world. Whether increasing access to voting for Romanians abroad or improving the quality of higher education in Romania through mentoring and professional services to students, we are confident we can have this positive impact.”

Projects

Arcadia - to create a network of policy makers, scholars, activists with expertise in development and Romania relations with the developing world

YoungDiplo - A complete educational program for second and third year college students in Romania, interested in international relations (IR), an alternative to the current curriculum in IR

Diaspora Votes - Campaign advocating for the introduction of electronic vote through internet for Diaspora. Public policy proposal document for Romania, presented in the Romanian Senate in November 2010

Leaders of changePractices

Knowledge transfer

“We strongly believe the precious expertise, education and experience our members have acquired abroad can and should be shared with and transferred to Romania in an effort to contribute to Romania’s development and modernization. Moreover, we see transfer of knowledge as an excellent way to connect Romania to the outside world and to play our part in putting Romania on the map.”

Projects:

Mentorship for success - access to mentors

Access to Education - information instrumental

YoungDiplo

Leaders of changePractices

Active citizenship

If each of us spent less time and energy whining about what we don’t like or what doesn’t work well in Romania and use that time and energy to actually do something about these problems, we would be in a fundamentally better position today. GRASP supports active citizenship by serving as a prime example of a volunteer-powered organization. Through our projects, we are demonstrating how much can actually be achieved when people focus on the solution instead of the problem, when people think beyond themselves and when people actually care!

Projects

Dear Romania, Write our Future - a call to  action to the Romanians in the most diverse communities around the country and across the globe to send love notes to their country and voice their opinion about issues

Project Romania 2020 - What We Can Do for Romania in the Next Decade, the signature program of the network consisting of working groups in the fields of business and finance, culture and arts, democracy and participation, Romania’s image abroad, public policy and public administration, education and research and healthcare were established. Eighteen projects have been launched at the same conference, nine of which are still ongoing.

The project

RESURSE Association

Piatra Neamt, Dunarii Street, no. 5

Neamt CountyRomania

Liviana Mustafaliviana.mustafa@gmail.com