战略与国际研究中心-Select-Briefing-Vol-4,-No-38_2页_227kb

CSIS New European Democracies Project Summary - November 9, 2007

Core Content Overview

This summary highlights recent political, economic, and military developments in Central, Southeast, and Baltic European countries, focusing on the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the Baltic States (Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia), as well as Romania and Bulgaria. The updates cover bilateral relations, EU integration efforts, domestic political changes, and regional security concerns.

Key Developments

Czech Republic

• Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek began a three-day visit to Bulgaria on 7 November, meeting with Bulgarian officials and a business delegation. The visit emphasized potential collaboration in the energy sector, including the construction of a new nuclear plant near Belene.
• Deputy Prime Minister Jiri Cunek resigned on 7 November due to anti-Roma remarks, a corruption scandal, and allegations of social benefits fraud.

Hungary

• Viktor Orban, leader of the Fidesz party and former Prime Minister, is set to visit the United States to engage with political and business leaders.
• MOL, Hungary's oil and gas company, signed a production sharing contract for an oil field in northern Iraq, securing a 20% stake. The company also previously acquired a 40% stake in an offshore block in Cameroon.
• Gazprom and E.ON had a stake swap agreement in mid-2006, but E.ON's CEO expressed a preference for acquiring UK gas-fired power assets instead of the Yuzhno-Russkoye gas field, which is a key source for the Nord Stream pipeline.

Poland

• The first session of the newly elected parliament took place on 5 November, with Bronislaw Komorowski elected as the new speaker.
• President Lech Kaczynski skipped the traditional address to the Sejm, breaking protocol.
• Donald Tusk was named as the new Prime Minister on 9 November, following discussions with political leaders. Tusk aims to ensure Polish ratification of the EU Reform Treaty.
• EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso met with Tusk and Kaczynski in Warsaw, expressing hope for greater EU-Polish cooperation.

Slovakia

• President Ivan Gasparovic awarded the outgoing U.S. ambassador, Rodolphe "Skip" Vallee, the Double White Cross Order.
• The Slovak military presence in Iraq will end in December 2007, with 718 soldiers having been deployed since 2003. Currently, 530 soldiers are stationed abroad.
• The Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant in Lithuania ceased operations on 8 November due to maintenance issues, leading to reliance on Russian electricity imports.

Slovenia

• Prime Minister Janez Jansa emphasized climate change and energy issues as key priorities for Slovenia during its EU presidency in 2008.
• He also pledged to work with other EU governments to expedite the ratification of the EU Reform Treaty.

Baltic States

Lithuania

• Defense Minister Juozas Olekas participated in a defense ministers' meeting in Stockholm, discussing emerging threats like cyber attacks and participation in international operations.
• The Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant shutdown affected Lithuania's energy supply, with engineers working to restart it by next week. The plant is scheduled to close in late 2009 as part of EU commitments.

Estonia

• Prime Minister Andrus Ansip met with EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn in Tallinn, reiterating that EU accession candidates must meet all necessary criteria. Estonia is willing to share its positive experience with other aspiring members.

Latvia

• Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis announced his resignation on 5 December, with the ruling coalition beginning the search for a new head of government.
• Latvian defense forces signed a USD 3.3 million contract with Harris Corp. for communication equipment for troops abroad.
• Lawmakers approved the appointment of three new ministers: Maris Riekstins (Foreign Minister), Edgars Zalans (Regional Affairs Minister), and Iveta Purne (Welfare Minister).

Southeast Europe

Bulgaria

• Defense Minister Veselin Bliznakov visited the Czech Republic to discuss NATO, regional security, and bilateral defense cooperation.
• Sofia Mayor Boyko Borisov, leader of the GERB party, called for early parliamentary elections following strong local election results, while Sergey Stanishev of the BSP dismissed the need for such action.
• Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin met with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to promote Japanese investments in Bulgaria and discuss economic cooperation.

Croatia

• Tourism numbers are expected to reach record levels in 2007, with 9.2 million visitors and 53.4 million overnight stays.
• Parliamentary elections in Croatia are set for 25 November, with HDZ and SDP leading in early polls.

Romania

• Romanian President Traian Basescu expressed concern over xenophobic actions in Italy against Romanians, particularly Romas, following the murder of an Italian citizen by a Romanian immigrant.
• Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu visited Italy to discuss border control and immigrant integration.
• Economy and Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian called for EU-level cooperation to support Romanian-Italian economic relations, especially in the context of the Constanta-Trieste Pan-European oil pipeline.
• President Basescu met with Norwegian officials in Norway, securing EUR 100 million in funding for various projects and delivering a lecture on energy in the Black Sea region.

Key Themes

• EU Integration and Reform: Multiple countries are focusing on EU reform and cooperation, with leaders emphasizing the need for ratification and alignment with EU standards.
• Energy Security: Energy issues are central, particularly in the context of nuclear power plant closures, reliance on Russian imports, and international energy projects.
• Political Shifts: Several countries are experiencing leadership changes, including resignations and new appointments, reflecting internal political dynamics.
• Regional Security and Defense: Discussions on NATO, international missions, and emerging threats such as cyber attacks are prevalent among the Baltic and Central European states.

Conclusion

The summary underscores the ongoing political and economic transformations in Central, Southeast, and Baltic Europe, with a focus on EU integration, energy challenges, and regional security. These developments highlight the complex interplay between domestic politics, international relations, and economic strategies in the post-accession era.