The first international scientific conference in the series „Past, present and future of the Polish-Ukrainian relations in the context of the subjectivity of Central Europe”, June 25, 2021.
At the invitation of the Center for Eastern Europe UMCS and the Institute of Political Sciences and Administration UMCS, the conference was attended by representatives of both domestic and foreign scientific and research centers. The introductory word was delivered by prof. dr hab. Marek Pietraś - Director of the Institute of Political Sciences and Administration UMCS, prof. dr hab. Beata Surmacz - Director of the Institute of Central Europe in Lublin, UMCS and prof. dr hab. Walenty Baluk - Director of the Center for Eastern Europe UMCS.
The first panel "Poland and Ukraine in the context of the geopolitics of Central Europe" was attended by: prof. dr hab. Anatoly Krugłaszow (J. Fed'kowycz National University in Chernivtsi), associate professor Natalia Neczajewa-Jurijczuk (J. Fed'kowycz National University in Chernivtsi), prof. dr hab. Przemysław Żurawski vel Grajewski (Faculty of International and Political Studies at the University of Lodz), Jakub Olchowski PhD (Institute of Political Sciences and Administration UMCS, Institute of Central Europe). The moderator was prof. dr hab. Marek Pietraś.
The participants of the discussion raised the issues of Polish-Ukrainian cooperation between states, taking into account the processes of European and sub-regional integration in Central and Eastern Europe. Moreover, the importance of Euro-Atlantic integration for Ukraine in the context of security was emphasized. The need to maintain the principle of complementarity of regional (EU and NATO) and subregional integration processes in Central and Eastern Europe was also indicated. The geopolitical determinism of the powers competing for influence in the Central and Eastern Europe region was criticized, and the need to strengthen the subjectivity of the region's states was pointed out. It is in the interest of the security of Central Europe to develop the strategic partnership between Poland and Ukraine.
The second panel „The state and prospects of strategic partnership between Poland and Ukraine”was attended by: prof. dr hab. Natalia Rotar (J. Fed'kowycz National University in Chernivtsi), associated professor Serhij Szwydiuk (J. Fed'kowycz National University in Chernivtsi), Marta Drabczuk PhD (Institute of Political Sciences and Administration UMCS, Institute of Central Europe), Paweł Bobołowicz (correspondent of Wnet Media in Ukraine, expert in Polish-Ukrainian relations). The moderator was prof. dr hab. Yuriy Makar from the J. Fed'kowycz National University in Chernivtsi.
During the discussion, the speakers raised the issues of cooperation between Poland and Ukraine in the political, economic and local dimensions. When assessing the state of mutual relations, the authors pointed to positive examples of mutual cooperation and areas where there is still a lot to be done. Moreover, the need for a pragmatic approach to the implementation of the strategic partnership formula was emphasized as was the need to abandon activities linking the historical policy with the development of the strategic partnership.
The webinar sessions were summed up by prof. Walenty Baluk.
The webinar was carried out as a public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland in the competition "Public Diplomacy 2021" on the basis of a grant agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs No. BDG-287/2021.
