Xenophon Paper 2 pdf - ICBSS

framework for political dialogue at the regional level. The BSEC is a relatively young
international organisation which explains most of its problems. In Istanbul on 1 June 2006
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia considers the BSEC to be a
viable regional international organisation which possesses necessary mechanisms for
cooperation and now what is needed is to devote the bulk of efforts to the practical
realisation of the possibilities that have been created. 6
The future of the BSEC
The BSEC can be seen as a potential positive influence in regional cooperation. However
to play a serious role, the BSEC must be adapted to the new regional and global realities
and dynamics. One of these realities is the growing role of the EU that has become a
centre of gravitation for the majority of the regional countries who are subjected to a fatal
attraction of integration and cooperation towards the greater EU area because of
economic as well as political reasons. The EU and the BSEC are complementary in
many senses. The role of the BSEC in developing regional infrastructures and cooperating
in sensitive sectors undoubtedly provides advantages to the EU, while the EU is the
BSEC’s most important link to globalisation. However, a great deal will depend on the
EU’s ability to present a viable strategy for the region.
For the time being it is based on the ENP which represents more a bilateral approach
rather than a sub-regional one. This ENP can be assessed as a temporary solution
postponing the question of the EU external borders. With regard to the BSR, it cannot
but fragment and weaken the BSEC by including some of its members in the new policy
and excluding others. 7 This can be considered as fully referring to Russia.
In the first draft (‘Communication on Wider Europe’), which was criticised in Russian political
and academic circles, Russia was put in a group with Southern Mediterranean countries.
This draft did not define any clear priorities for the EU’s neighbourhood, which was
regarded as one integral space. The final draft (‘The EU Neighbourhood Policy’) has entirely
excluded Russia from the EU strategy. This document defines Russia as an EU strategic
partner but it says that EU-Russia relations will be built around the Saint Petersburg
decision on four common spaces of cooperation.
6 Keynote Address by H.E. Mr. S. Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, BSEC Chairmanin-
Office, at the Joint Meeting of the Heads of the BSEC Related Bodies, BSEC ‘Troika’, and Representatives
of the BSEC Member States and the BSEC Observer States, Istanbul, 1 June 2006, available at the Black Sea
Monitor, no.1, ICBSS, Athens, July 2006, pp. 6-8 (http://www.icbss.org).
7 Aliboni, Roberto (2006), ‘Globalisation and the Wider Black Sea Area: Interaction with the European Union,
Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East’, Journal of Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, vol.6, no. 2,
Routledge, London, June, p.166.
116 UNFOLDING THE BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION VIEWS FROM THE REGION