POLAND AND UKRAINE IN THE EASTERN DIMENSION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: INTEGRATION EXPERIENCE AND PROSPECTS FOR COOPERATION
Abstract
The article examines the role of Poland and Ukraine in the Eastern dimension of the European Union’s policy, with a particular focus on European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes. It analyses the economic and political preconditions for Poland’s accession to the EU and NATO, key stages of reforms, including the implementation of the “shock therapy” model and the Balcerowicz Plan, which laid the foundation for the country’s economic transformation. The study identifies the main challenges Poland faced on its integration path – scepticism from Western states, resistance from Russia, low public support, and the complexity of implementing EU legal and technical norms – as well as the mechanisms used to overcome them. Special emphasis is placed on the political consolidation of the elites around the integration course as a strategic state interest. The evolution of EU–Ukraine relations from the early 1990s to the post-2014 period is explored in detail. Particular attention is given to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (1994), the European Neighbourhood Policy, the Eastern Partnership initiative, and the impact of the Orange Revolution on Ukraine’s European course.The article discusses political, economic, and institutional aspects of Ukraine–EU interaction, problems in implementing democratic standards and combating corruption, and Poland’s role as an advocate and intermediary for Ukraine within European institutions. It is concluded that Poland’s integration experience can serve as a practical model for Ukraine, provided that it is adapted to national specificities, the geopolitical context, and the country’s internal reform potential.The findings contribute to understanding the interconnection between national reform agendas and broader EU strategic objectives in the Eastern neighbourhood.The chronological framework of the study covers the period from 1990 to 2014, with a primary focus on the integration processes before and after Poland’s accession to the European Union in 2004, and on the impact of these processes on Ukraine.
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