On the eve of the EU decision to impose sanctions on Russia, The Day had an interesting conversation with the chief executive officer of the European Economic Senate (EES) Michael Jager. The EEC is known as a sort of elite club whose members (300 corporate members from 15 countries) advise leading EU politicians on different political and economic issues. “I was very close to the EU decision-makers and MEPs,” Jager admitted when speaking to participants of an event held as part of the project “Ukraine: Facing the Future,” initiated by MIM-Kyiv and the Aspen-Ukraine Association.
I know that you advocated the idea of creating so-called Eastern European Union, and called this variant of integration with Europe one of the best for Ukraine as late as a few years ago. Have you kept to this idea?
“Ukraine is a part of Europe. This is not so much a political issue as a question of history, religion, and culture. I think no one would object to the statement that Ukraine is far more European than Turkey.
“As for the economic and political integration with the EU, regardless of whether you will get a privileged partnership, or full membership, you must carry out reforms, primarily for your own benefit.
“If you want to have, say, European trucks driving through Ukraine, then you must provide the same level of safety as is provided for road transport in Europe.
“The A4 sheet, now used for all office documents, was originally a German size, and now the whole world uses it. Standardization is still able to create your brand, which will be trusted worldwide.
“Regardless of the problems raised by the war in eastern Ukraine, you need to reform, not for the EU, but for yourselves.”
To deal with the problems you have mentioned, we need the EU support. Without it, we stand little chance to win the conflict with Russia... Do Europeans understand it?
“We long considered it as two different conflicts. When it came to Crimea, Europe thought, ‘Well, Crimea was once Russian, so its annexation is an internal issue of Ukraine.’ I knew it was not, as the separatists, the leaders of the uprising in Crimea had come from Russia, and now we know it for sure. Russia has a huge interest in separating the Donbas from Ukraine, so it has unleashed the war in the east. Russia needs a land access to Crimea.
“The question is how we will thwart the Kremlin’s plan. There is no manual on how to do it, and no textbook solutions.
“My advice is this: you need to find a dynamic approach. If Ukraine wants to be a second Switzerland, enjoying free trade agreements with Russia and the EU, it can be an alternative for you...”
Yes, it can, but Russia demands that we abandon the EU integration...
“I am not here as a political adviser. I am economic expert. However, if you ask for my advice, I will tell you that you need to show the world that it is not some separatists who are fighting in the east, but the Russian army. From Belarus to Poland, everyone is afraid to talk about it now, but you should not be afraid. There can be no return to the status quo ante bellum.
“My advice is to create an autonomous Donbas region inside Ukraine. Italy suffered similar problems in its south, there were many conflicts there, including armed ones...”
I will offer you a better fitting parallel to our situation, but it is less positive than Italy. It is Abkhazia and South Ossetia. I think you do not need me to explain why I think these examples are more relevant to our situation...
“There is clearly no need to. Of course, you need to do what you are doing in the east, but we must look forward already to how it will look when you restore peace in the area. For it to make a recovery, you will need support.”
Is it true that economic and energy ties between individual members of the EU and Russia have become so strong that these countries are currently losing their political independence?
“They are not, from the economic point of view. Of course, France and Germany have many business connections with Russia, so when we talk about sanctions, we must take into account the European business, or there will be losses on both sides.
“Still, the key to all of this are human rights and peoples’ national interests. It is all-important for me. It is not about the economy anymore, but about humanity, which is the primary consideration. National sovereignty must be respected, and it is much more important than the economy.”
