I’m not sure though that Putin can manipulate the EU issue in Ukraine’s domestic politics, because it just does not have nearly as polarizing effect as NATO does. All three major political blocs (Yushchenko, Tymoshenko, Yanukovych) are fine with the EU idea.

I accept that I cannot underpin my claim that Russia would consider the EU offering membership to the Ukraine “a sort of declaration of war” (my weasely term if there ever was one). The proof, in my mind, is circumstantial at best. It rests on the closeness of EU- and NATO-membership and what has started in Georgia in the meantime :-(. My interpretation of Putin’s words you quote is this: they have a million ways to make sure, using covert measures through the domestic politics Ukraine, to stop it from being accepted by a Europe none to eager to take in another big and poor country to start with…

What I still object to is the suggestion that were the EU to offer a membership to Ukraine, it would equal a “sort of declaration of war” on Russia. My objection is based on what Russia has stated so far. Moscow has been very clear about the EU and the NATO issues: 1. It is ok with EU-Ukraine deal; 2. It is not ok with NATO-Ukraine deal.

Here is Putin quoted in the Russian Pravda  http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/88/354/…):

“Vladimir Putin told Spanish journalists that if Ukraine is accepted to the EU, as it desires, Russia will be happy. “Indeed, Russia and Ukraine have close relations in economy and cooperate in the industrial sphere. So, incorporation of the Ukrainian economy into the EU economy is likely to have a positive result for Russia as well,” Vladimir Putin said…

…Russia had always been negative towards NATO expansion, as it would not neutralize present-day menaces. At the same time, Russia always welcomes EU enlargement.”

Also, I agree with you that articulating EU interests vis-a-vis Ukraine is something that should be done, but perhaps the reason this has not happened yet is because the EU does not want to commit itself to one position that may make it difficult for the EU to change its stance later.

Balazs - I think it is a bad European habit that strategic aims are not spelled out and we muddle through strategic decisions. I agree with you that the Balkans enlargement should be a top priority, I would also give a priority, like the Czech would-be presidency claims to resolve frozen conflicts such as Transdnistria, Cyprus and Kosovo near the EU boundaries, than move on to Turkey. But I think it would be much better if the European interest would be spelled out in the case of Ukraine.

I think an EU membership is for Ukraine is not on the agenda yet. But it would be good to know if we want to put it on the agenda later or we would like to find another long-term relationship with Ukraine. I believe that this issue was not honestly solved in the case of Turkey and it causes a lot of harm to the EU.

At the same time, it does not mean that the EU membership is a currently an option (no one here says it is), but it cannot be dismissed based on the above rationale.

And yes, Brussels should not let the problems with the Lisbon Treaty to affect its efforts in the Balkans and Turkey.

The issue, I am afraid, is the relationship between the EU and Russia. The ever more assertive and less democratic ex-superpower has not given up on re-conquering the Ukraine or at least the Eastern and Southern part of it (where the majority has minimal allegience to the new state). If the EU admitted the Ukraine that would be the sort of declaration war on Russia that we (I am Hungarian), alas, cannot afford at this point. I am sure every policymaker in Bruxelles is acutely aware of this.

My sad suggestion: let us, for now, stop the pointless chatter and concentrate on the Balkans and Turkey where we can go ahead at our chosen pace. That is our decision. Admitting the Ukraine is hardly an option now.

I had an essay published in Hungarian that was wildly criticized in the Hungarian press and blogosphere, and it was against a certain type of Islamophobia. But I also do not share the views of those people who play down the role of Christianity in Europe or even the EU. We have a Catholic icon on our flag. Although Europe is the continent where religion has the least role in the world, I think the power of faith is too much underestimated.

If you think about the meaning of the words ‘integration’ ‘unity’ and ‘identity’ you have to acknowledge that these are inter-related concepts. I think faith is a very important part of private and social identities.

That is why I was referring to the Year of Intercultural Dialogue: The EU institutions which are crucial for enlargement won’t use once the argument brought forward by Smetana, because the EU has seen an evolution in terms of integration and diversity policies, which make those arguments less and less valid.

What I agree with is that being a christian country is of advantage for accession compared to Turkey, but this will in no way constitute an active reason for accession, it just is a political factor easing member states politicians to sell the story to those in fear of people from Eastern Europe once accession is on the agenda.

In the case of NATO, I am not sure how this story will develop. Personally, I am not a big fan of NATO, because it is - and here I agree with the Russians - a relict from the Cold War. I would prefer the European Union to incorporate the tasks of NATO and institutionalise a broader cooperation beyond its borders, because separating military and political power is not appropriate these days. Because of this position, EU membership perspective would also incorporate the military security for Ukraine. But I am aware that this is not very realistic, so I have to keep my momentary position of indecisiveness.

Oh yes, before I forget it:

As someone living in Germany these days I have to say: Ms Merkel tends to be short of a strategy from time to time as many of her colleagues from different political parties in Germany. :-) The country is importing too much gas from Russia, and that makes it kind of hart to take independent decisions…