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Professor Grabowska about the Czech presidency and a gas conflict Russia- Ukraine. The Czech presidency will take place in an uneasy time for the entire Europe. The financial crisis and economic recession are going to be more difficult to face then ever. The elections to the European Parliament and yet another conflict in the East are as well to be dealt with. Unfortunately, The Czech does not have proper tools to do so, since the Lisbon Treaty was not applied. The EU does not have the quick and sharp changes and mechanisms that would make solving this issue easier. Also, this presidency is to struggle with a seemingly two-sided conflict about gas, which is to bring about effects that will touch the whole Europe.
The deliveries of Russian gas via Ukraine were stopped on January the 7th. Russia stated that it was Ukraine that made them undertake such actions, as the Ukrainians were stealing the gas. The Ukraine however tried to explain that the gas that they are taking is needed only to serve the gas mains. The legislative possibilities of EU are very narrow in this conflict. The EU, being the biggest partner for both, Russia and Ukraine is of course taken under consideration by both countries, also the strong statement made by prime minister Topolanek left no doubt that Union may loose patience. The European Union’s attitude, in this gas conflict, reminds fully of king Salomon. The EU did not judge or blame anyone, but persistently fulfilled its obligations. The negotiations between Julia Tymoszenko and Mirek Topolanek have ended on 18th January. Ukraine fulfilled all its conditions so that Russia would re-start the gas delivery to states of EU. The Russians will succeed it they manage to convince Europe, that their gas pipe is the trustworthy. However, this experience made Europe to think about looking new, more reliable economical partners. A question must be asked, and a lesson must be taught. What did European Union learn from this conflict?
The reaction of states was surprisingly fast. It was asked to begin the Nabucco project, which would supply gas from Central Asia to Europe, without entering Russia. Nabucco is going to be 3300 km long and will be put within the territory of Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria. As a result of this conflict Europe started to speak more about the need of entering the Lisbon Treaty which is to unite the politics concerning power engineering. No country in EU is anymore negating the idea of united and common politics and way of approaching issues like energetic safety, what is more, this issues is becoming the no 1 problem to be solved. This conflict showed how economy and politics come hand to hand. It is not army, but an ordinary pipe that can by a useful tool in politics. This conflict has shown to Europeans how thoughtful were the words of Bill Clinton, who at the beginning of his tenure ordered to hang this sign in his office “Economy, stupid!”
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