Cross-Border Cooperation Facilitates Ukraine’s European Integration

Today, it is hard to find a corner of our country where the shadow of the Russian-Ukrainian war is not felt. And while, for example, hostilities are constantly felt along our eastern borders – as they are associated with death – the western borders, where such tragedies also occur, albeit less frequently, face their own challenges that require immediate action, for without it, it is impossible to defend national independence. This is the subject of a recent roundtable organized by the Institute for  Global Politics, held this time in Uzhhorod, entitled “Challenges in Cross-Border Cooperation and Ways to Address Them”.  

There are many reasons for holding such a roundtable, as noted by the general public. Among the main ones is the fact that Transcarpathia (for several years now) has been playing a prominent and responsible role in Ukraine’s destiny – a fact that must always be kept in mind when making decisions at all levels of government. This refers to the region’s location, the specifics of its economic activity, and, of course, recent changes in its population due to hostilities in the East of  Ukraine, among other factors.

This and other issues were highlighted in the speeches of the roundtable participants, who included political analysts and diplomats, local government officials and representatives of civil society, scholars and faculty members from local universities, and journalists. In total, they represented seven European countries. Virtually every attendee took the floor to speak, raising specific issues that are important not only for Transcarpathia and proposing solutions that would benefit our country. For example, participants in the event – Consul General of the Slovak Republic in Uzhhorod, HENRIK SASAY, and Economic Advisor to the Consulate General of the Slovak Republic in Uzhhorod, ROMAN ZHATKO, pointed out  in this regard that one of their duties is to support cross-border cooperation, through which useful ties between neighboring countries are established. And this, in particular, helps Ukraine prepare for EU accession. They were supported by Volodymyr Prykhodko, Head of the Department of International Economic Relations at Uzhhorod National University. In his speech he pointed out  that cross-border cooperation, in particular, is a tool that always guarantees concrete results. Indeed, establishing cross-border cooperation from the very first days of the war has significantly helped countries in resolving various issues.

During their discussions and speeches, the roundtable participants also touched upon the positive influence of this cooperation on the culture of neighboring countries, which will undoubtedly contribute to cross-border connectivity, environmental improvement, digital communication, and more. This was the focus of the speeches by the Vice Rector for Research at the Augustin Voloshyn Carpathian University and the Uzhhorod Ukrainian Theological Academy, Mykhailo BASARAB; Chairman of the Augustin Voloshyn Ukrainian Pedagogical Society Mykola PALINCHAK; Dean of the Faculty of International Economic Relations at Uzhhorod National University; Chief of Staff of the Transcarpathian Regional Council Myroslava LIVCH; Deputy Mayor of Uzhhorod Maria BADYDA; Mayor of Berehove Zoltan BABIAK; Viktor BEDYA, President of the Carpathian Augustine Voloshyn University, Director of the Research Institute of Philosophy, Theology, and Analytics at the Augustin Voloshyn Carpathian University, and Scientific Secretary of the International Academy of Theological Sciences Maia  ARTYOMOVA, etc.

The roundtable participants, building on each other’s remarks, highlighted positive developments in the activities of local communities and noted their achievements, while also pointing out what needs to be done to ensure that such activities receive strong support at the national level, as without it, they may lose their meaning.

President of the The NGO “Congress of Local Self-Government of Ukraine”,  Vice President of the Chamber of Regions of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe S. CHERNOV, President of the Institute of Global Policy O. BEREZYUK and to E. HORVAT, chair of the NGO “Association of Slovak Intelligentsia of Transcarpathia” were tasked with moderating the roundtable. Drawing on their considerable experience in such practical and academic work, they guided the direction of the participants’ remarks, supplemented them with relevant information, and formulated proposals to be included in the draft resolution.

They also informed the attendees that all presentations and proposals made during the roundtable would be published in a special edition, as well as in the form of separate materials on the Institute’s website, as has been done following previous such events. And as noted above, the conclusions and proposals of the roundtable will form the basis of a corresponding resolution, which will be sent to numerous institutions, including the offices of the highest state leadership, in order to facilitate the processes of improving so-called border cooperation mechanisms, streamline them to a minimum, and make them systematic. This refers to a number of so-called factors – practically modernized international industrial parks, joint environmental projects, the development of financial mechanisms, so-called soft diplomacy, and so on. All of this will revitalize the dialogue among the relevant agencies responsible for the state of affairs in  the Carpathian region and its development, which will facilitate Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

Press Office
Institute for Global Politics