Government approves year-long action plan on European integration ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
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ISSUE # 05
02/18/2013
On 13 February 2013, the government approved an action plan on Ukraine's
integration into Europe for this year.
According to First Deputy Foreign Minister Ruslan Demchenko, the plan specifies
the actions that need to be taken to strengthen cooperation in trade, justice and security and improve Ukraine's business and investment climate. READ MORE
- Gorshenin Weekly |
Published on EGF: 21.02.2013
| External Relations
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Fule announces deadline for Ukraine to meet association agreement conditions ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
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ISSUE # 04
02/11/2013
On 7 February 2013, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European
Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule said in Kiev that Ukraine must meet the
conditions required for signing an association agreement by November this year. He
said this at a meeting with Prime Minister Mykola Azarov. READ MORE
- Gorshenin Weekly |
Published on EGF: 13.02.2013
| External Relations
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Political Advisory Briefing: Egypt ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
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By Claudia Nocente, Research Associate Global Security
February 2013
Key points:
- Egypt’s new administration between international praise and domestic unrest
- Morsi assumes pharaonic powers in an attempt to rid Egypt of Mubarak judges
- The felool take another shot in Egyptian politics
- The generals remain silent
- The Egyptian economy sinks
READ MORE
- Claudia Nocente |
Published on EGF: 12.02.2013
| External Relations
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Ukraine guarantees uninterrupted Russian gas transit to Europe ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
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ISSUE # 03
02/04/2013
On 30 January 2013, Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara said that Ukraine would
remain a reliable transit country for Russian gas sent to the EU. He said this at a
meeting with European Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger. READ MORE
- Gorshenin Weekly |
Published on EGF: 08.02.2013
| External Relations
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EGF Turkey File ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
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Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during January 2013
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst
Key Points:
- Reports leak about the training of Turkish soldiers for missions to secure Syria’s weapons of mass destruction.
- Construction is underway on Kurdish Regional Government’s pipeline projects to Turkey. The project continues to be a thorn in the side of Baghdad, alienating it from Ankara as well as Erbil.
- KRG-Turkish cooperation is also key in Ankara’s efforts at creating a counterweight to the PYD in Syria, with pro-Masoud Barzani groups seen as a better option than PKK sympathetic militant groups.
- Turkey’s judicial and penal systems come under scrutiny despite substantial EU funding to improve prisoners living conditions.
- In a move to diversify away from cleaner gas-powered electrical production plants, tenders for coal powered plants are on the rise. The growth in coal power plants is part of a government effort to lessen reliance on gas supplies from Russia and Iran.
READ MORE
- EGF Editorial |
Published on EGF: 07.02.2013
| External Relations
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EGF Gazprom Monitor ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
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A Snapshot of Key Developments in the External Relations of the Russian Gas Sector
by Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher on the external dimensions of Russian gas
Key points:
- Gazprom is under pressure from all sides. European energy companies request further gas price discounts, export volumes fell in 2012 and are expected to remain weak in 2013, PM Medvedev suggests that Gazprom’s export monopoly could be revoked, and Gazprom faces criticism from Europe and the United States over its bid for Greece’s state-owned gas utility, DEPA.
- Gazprom slaps Naftogaz with a $7bn bill for failing to purchase sufficient amounts of gas in 2012.
- The Czech section of Nord Steam, Gazelle, is launched as Gazprom CEO, Alexei Miller, declares an expansion of Nord Stream to be ‘feasible’ despite the pipeline operating at well below capacity since its launch
- Gazprom and the Croatian State-owned energy company, Plinacro, to set up a joint venture in mid-2013 for the construction of a spur from South Stream into Croatia, while Serbia is set to grant South Stream ‘national status’
- Gazprom signs an agreement with Novatek to produce LNG on the Yamal Peninsula, with Asia the predicted export destination
- Gazprom lobbies the Russian government for Shtokman tax breaks as the Russian government considers revoking the Gazprom-Rosneft monopoly on offshore gas and oil production in Russia
READ MORE
- EGF Editorial |
Published on EGF: 06.02.2013
| External Relations
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Criminal charges against Tymoshenko ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
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ISSUE # 01
01/21/2013
Tymoshenko faces charges of organizing murder; life sentence possible.
On 18 January 2013, Prosecutor-General Viktor Pshonka said that Yuliya
Tymoshenko and Pavlo Lazarenko, both former prime ministers, were to face
charges of organizing a contract killing. He said that the investigation established
that Tymoshenko and Lazarenko had paid 2.8m dollars to have politician and
businessman Yevhen Shcherban killed in 1996 in a dispute over business interests. READ MORE
- Gorshenin Weekly |
Published on EGF: 24.01.2013
| External Relations
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EGF Turkey File ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
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Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during 1-15 January 2013
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst
Key Points:
- Turkey makes progress on the Kurdish issue, conducting unilateral talks with Abdullah Ocalan. Most Turks appear to support the government’s actions, but the assassination of a PKK co-founder in Paris raises concerns of sabotaging any future agreement.
- The Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) begins oil shipments to Turkey while its relationship with Baghdad continues to deteriorate. Moves by the Iraqi government to bring Kirkuk under military control result in Turkey having to take sides in another civil war.
- The Turkish stock market produced positive returns for investors in 2012, well above the losses experienced by the Eurozone and U.S. But concerns rise over growing credit expansion according to Fitch’s latest report.
- Gazprom’s take or pay contracts end, resulting in over $3 billion in savings for Turkey. Meanwhile, the country invests in large scale refinery upgrades that will double its crude refining capacity. Energy Minister Yildiz visits Algeria and Libya to renew one energy deal in the former and promote investment in the latter.
READ MORE
- EGF Editorial |
Published on EGF: 24.01.2013
| External Relations
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Regional Integration as a Conflict Management Strategy in the Balkans and South Caucasus ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
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By Anna Ohanyan, EGF Affiliated Expert on South Caucasus region building
There is much enthusiasm among researchers and policymakers alike concerning the pacifying effects of trade and broader interdependence among states. The European Union is an often cited example of greater regional integration as a way to enhance peace and security among neighboring states. This comparative regional study draws from the cases of the Balkans and South Caucasus in order (1) to offer a descriptive account of patterns and processes of regionalism in politically divided conflict areas, and (2) to examine the extent to which such regional engagement can positively affect ongoing conflict management efforts in a given conflict region. The study advocates promoting regional structures as a new and potentially effective approach to peace-building and security enhancement, toward managing the many 'frozen conflicts' both in the Balkans as well as in the South Caucasus. READ MORE
- Anna Ohanyan |
Published on EGF: 15.01.2013
| External Relations
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