Orysia Lutsevich: Approaches used in sport are likewise important in the EaP processes

“The team of six countries-members of the EaP should develop individual strengths of each player”, - assumes Orysia Lutsevich, analyst from Chatham House.

Orysia Lutsevich, analyst of the well-established British Centre Chatham House, has recently visited Minsk. She assumes that organizations-donors that work in the field of civil society development in the countries of the Eastern Europe should be more active in their support of educational programs, as such programs change people’s minds. EuroBelarus Information Service introduces extracts from her speech at the session of Liberal Club in Minsk on modernization in the context of “Eastern Partnership” program.

- Comparing with the first and second EU extension waves, situation in the countries of the Eastern Partnership remains tense. First of all, it concerns inner situation. As political elite in many of these countries haven’t reached a consensus on the development model their countries should follow: whether to choose Customs Union with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan or to integrate into Europe. Public opinion is divided, too. Situation is complicated with democratic and economic development models in the countries-members of the EaP, as not everyone has carried out structural reforms. On the one hand, there is certain crisis within the EU, on the other, we see decline of romantic moods around the EU. That is why it is hard to predict how integration processes are going develop in the near future. I hope that the EU is well aware of how important it is to maintain relations with the civil society, both by means of NGOs and through student exchanges. European Endowment for Democracy starts its work soon; program for non-governmental partners is working now. These programs are aimed both at popularization and integration of European standards in different areas as well as reforms in these countries. However, it is rather difficult for the EU to find partners in our countries among public organizations that can effectively perform these programs. I think that we don’t have programs that teach democratic and civic responsibility to the extent possible in this or that country of the Eastern Partnership. I believe that the policy of organizations-donors working in our region that count on influencing government doesn’t always works out due to a variety of reasons, as even in western democratic countries this influence is disputable. Very often this influence is spreading through Internet, Mass Media, not by means of expert opinion or publications prepared by NGOs for government structures. That is why educational programs are of great importance; they alter people’s minds.

On the possibility to sign the Association Agreement with Ukraine

- I would characterize expectations of Ukraine from the summit as strained. Everyone is waiting whether the authorities will fulfill certain conditions for association with the EU. The conditions are listed as follows: selective justice; reforms in the electoral legislation; parliamentary by-elections in the regions where they didn’t take place in autumn of 2012. No one can say to what extent government is ready to introduce these changes. And expectations of the representatives from the Ukrainian civil society are especially high. They have even prepared an appeal to the EU. It is said there that people don’t share all the actions implemented by the Ukrainian government. And if the agreement is not signed, this appeal will be a serious hindrance in the EU-Ukraine relations.

On the Eastern Partnership processes

- I think thatapproaches used in sport are likewise important in the Eastern Partnership processes. Thus, the team of six countries-members of the EaP should develop individual strengths of each player, not make them conform to some average standard. With such approach we can find most optimal ratio to make this region flourish, make it peaceful and economically stable, as it is said in the goals of the EaP.

Reference. Chatham House (official name is “the Royal Institute of International Affairs”) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in London whose mission is to analyze and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs. It is regarded as one of the world's leading organizations in this area and is ranked as the second most influential think tank in the world after the Brookings Institution, and the world's most influential non-US think tank.

Chatham House issues two magazines: the key scholarly and policy journal International Affairs, as well as a bi-monthly magazine The World Today. Less broad researches are available on the Internet.