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{
  "authors": [
    "Balázs Jarábik",
    "Iulian Groza",
    "Jana Kobzová",
    "Viktor Konstantynov",
    "Tsovinar Kuiumchian",
    "Leonid Litra",
    "Tornike Sharashenidze",
    "Isaac Webb"
  ],
  "type": "other",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Carnegie Europe"
  ],
  "collections": [
    "Europe’s Eastern Neighborhood"
  ],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "",
  "programs": [],
  "projects": [
    "Reforming Ukraine"
  ],
  "regions": [
    "Caucasus",
    "Georgia",
    "Eastern Europe",
    "Ukraine",
    "Moldova",
    "Russia",
    "Europe"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Political Reform",
    "Foreign Policy"
  ]
}

Source: Getty

Other

Implementing the EU Association Agreements with Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova

EU association deals with Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova have proven to be key drivers of reform in all three countries. The emphasis should now be on implementation, not simply legislative adoption.

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By Balázs Jarábik, Iulian Groza, Jana Kobzová, Viktor Konstantynov, Tsovinar Kuiumchian, Leonid Litra, Tornike Sharashenidze, Isaac Webb
Published on Nov 16, 2017
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Project

Reforming Ukraine

Carnegie’s Reforming Ukraine project provides objective, rigorous, evidence-based assessments of the Ukrainian reform effort via a series of regular publications, workshops, and events prepared by a team of Carnegie fellows and independent experts based in Ukraine.

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Source: European Parliament

Signing and ratifying Association Agreements with Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine has proven to be an impressive affirmation of Brussels’ soft power. The EU’s overtures have persuaded elites and mobilised societies despite the fact that the Agreements come neither with a membership promise nor with the kind of financial assistance that has been given to the EU’s new member states.

EU assistance has been effective in restoring macro-financial stability in all three countries. While costs of compliance with the DCFTA were calculated, level of investment associated with the necessary modernisation to make these economies competitive were neglected. The discrepancy between costs and benefits should prompt the EU to be more flexible.

Brussels’ achievements remain fragile. Informal interests continue to play important roles in these countries and have the potential to thwart reforms. In the absence of strong, de-politicised institutions, the EU should work to support political consolidation—the alternative is further polarisation and political fragility—while at the same time insisting on adherence to democratic standards and strengthened institutional checks and balances.

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This study was originally published by the European Parliament with the title “The state of implementation of the associations and free trade agreements with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova with a particular focus on Ukraine and systemic analysis of key sectors.”

About the Authors

Balázs Jarábik

Political analyst, former Slovak diplomat, and consultant specializing in Eastern Europe

Iulian Groza

Jana Kobzová

Viktor Konstantynov

Tsovinar Kuiumchian

Leonid Litra

Tornike Sharashenidze

Isaac Webb

Former Junior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program

Authors

Balázs Jarábik

Political analyst, former Slovak diplomat, and consultant specializing in Eastern Europe

Balázs Jarábik
Iulian Groza
Jana Kobzová
Viktor Konstantynov
Tsovinar Kuiumchian
Leonid Litra
Tornike Sharashenidze
Isaac Webb
Former Junior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program
Political ReformForeign PolicyCaucasusGeorgiaEastern EuropeUkraineMoldovaRussiaEurope

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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