Local border traffic agreement with the
Kaliningrad Oblast as a field of cooperation between EU and Russia
Kaliningrad
Oblast remains the important region for relations between European Union and
Russian Federation. In some measure it even becomes field directed on getting
closer to Europe. From historical perspective Saint Petersburg has been seen in
XVIII century as “the window to Europe” for Russia. Nowadays, this role could
be taken namely by Kaliningrad Region. Partnership between Moscow and Brussels
was launched thanks to Partnership and Cooperation agreement (24 June 1994) and
now it is provided mainly within the framework of so-called “Four Common
Spaces”. In the Common
Space of Freedom, Security and Justice visa issues (and facilitation of travelling)
between these international actors are discussed. Bearing in mind
politicization of negotiations on visa facilitation, which is noticeable
recently, Kaliningrad region is seen as important field of cooperation –
successful one. Since 2004 both partners have aimed at strengthen transborder
cooperation with Russian exclave in many fields like supporting small and
medium enterprises, increasing economic relations, energy efficiency,
educational and cultural exchange[1].
The role of Poland
in this process is undoubtedly crucial.
Thanks to determination of Polish officials agreement between the Government of the Polish
Republic and the Government of the Russian Federation on local border traffic[2]
was signed. It should be underlined,
that it was an exception from European law. European rules allow EU member
states to create this simplified border traffic in the territory up to 30
kilometers from the European border (in some cases maximum to 50 km)[3].
Council and European Parliament eventually supported the extension of local
border traffic to the whole territory of Kaliningrad Oblast[4]
and agreement was signed on 13 December 2011 by Polish Minister of Foreign
Affairs Radoslaw Sikorski and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Thanks to
that, relevant categories of citizens is allowed to travel in visa-free regime,
namely: residents of the Kaliningrad Oblast and on the other side, residents of
seven poviats of Pomeranian Voivodeship: Pucki, Nowodworski, Malborski, Gdański
and the cities of Gdynia, Sopot and Gdańsk and thirteen poviats of
Warmian-Mazurian Voivodeship: Elbląski, Braniewski, Lidzbarski, Bartoszycki,
Olsztyński, Kętrzyński, Mrągowski, Węgorzewski, Giżycki, Gołdapski, Olecki and
the cities of Elbląg and Olsztyn. Therefore, almost one million Russian citizens
and almost two millions Polish ones could repeatedly cross the Polish-Russian
border without visa. They need only special permission, which is issued once
and it costs 20 euro, and document confirming identity as well[5].
Entry into force of the
bilateral agreement between Poland and Russia on local border traffic on 27
July 2012 is described as one of the main achievements of the EU-Russia
dialogue in 2012[6] and
this document became (together with the EU-Russia Visa Facilitation Agreement
and the EU-Russia Readmission Agreement, which entered into force in 2007)
important step to facilitate visa regime between Russia and European Union and
to create visa-free regime as a long-term goal. Local border traffic influences on boost
tourist and economic exchange and the local governments’ cooperation[7], but also makes easier
people-to-people contact, i.a. between businessmen, students, enterprises. Consequently, it will improve mutual
trust and root out stereotypes among both nations as well. The case of Kaliningrad
could be good example for European Union and Russia and their relations. Not
only as a field of effective cooperation, but also give incentive to overcome
mutual distrust, which remains serious obstacle in relations between Moscow and
Brussels.
[1] S. Utkin, Visa-free: Modernising the Russians, in: The EU-Russia Modernisation Partnership, The EU-Russia Centre
Review, October 2010, http://www.eu-russiacentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/EURC_review_XV_ENG.pdf, Access:
25.04.2013, p. 60.
[2] Umowa
między Rządem Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej a Rządem Federacji Rosyjskiej o
zasadach małego ruchu granicznego, oficjalna strona Ministerstwa Spraw
Zagranicznych Polski, http://www.msz.gov.pl/files/docs/komunikaty/20111214MGR/tresc%20umowy%20o%20mgr-pl.pdf, Access: 25.04.2013.
[4] Regulation (EU) No 1342/2011 of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 amending Regulation
(EC) No 1931/2006 as regards the inclusion of the Kaliningrad oblast and
certain Polish administrative districts in the eligible border area, OJ L 347, 30.12.2011, p.
41–43.
[5] A. Kazimierczuk, Umowa o małym ruchu granicznym podpisana, „Rzeczpospolita”, 14.12.2011.
[6] EU-Russia Common Spaces Progress Report 2012,
March 2013, http://www.eeas.europa.eu/russia/docs/commonspaces_prog_report_2012_en.pdf, Access: 25.04.2013.
Polish presidency and a
trust-building exercise for Poland and Russia, Batory Foundation Policy
Brief, December 2011, Warsaw, http://www.batory.org.pl/upload/files/ANG/Publikacje/Open%20Europe/Local_border_traffic_agreement_for_the_Kaliningrad_region_a_success_story_of_the_Polish_presidency_and_a_trustbuilding_exercise_for_Poland%20_and_Russia.pdf, Access: 25.04.2013, p. 4.
Hi, I have red Your ariticle with a real pleasure. But things You wrote about these, in my personal oppinion, are only facts....What about attitude of Russians politicians to the aspect of thighteening relations with Eastern Europe...?
ReplyDeleteIn my question I was thinking about real attitude... I mean for me it is no a secret that Russian politicians are anxious especially for Poles...
ReplyDeleteI have wisit Kaliningrad Oblast some time ago...It was really nice trip...I think that time is changing... young people tend to integration, cooperation with each other...I think that first step to real integration could be tourism....
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author, seriously, this new agreement could encourage people to travel more, they could see foreigners easily coming to their country and estimate their behavior, see the positive effects of the visa-free regime on their local economies, kind of in a test version. Hopefully, this could bring trust and destroy stereotypes about Russians, thus showing that it is not that dangerous to open borders.
ReplyDeleteRAFAŁ JEWDOKIMOW WROTE:
ReplyDeleteIt is worth to mention, that Russian statement on local border traffic was ambiguous. On the one hand, negotiations on LBT were conducted. On the other hand, head of the Russian government has announced, that Kaliningrad Oblast could not be an exception in EU-Russia cooperation on visa-free regime and this federal subject should be perceived like others ones. It means, all of the Russian citizens should have possibility to travel to Europe without visa as soon as possible. Secondly, Kaliningrad region becomes more and more independent of Moscow. Consequently, this region is more oriented to Europe. Also Europeans perceived Kaliningrad as an “another” part of Russia, that is why the cooperation should be easier.
Moreover, there are strong economic ties between Kaliningrad Oblast and its European neighbors (Poland, Lithuania). But they are asymmetric – Kaliningrad’s import is much bigger than its export to Europe and, in fact, Russian subject depends on import from Europe.
Concerning agreement on LBT as a mean to encourage people to travel more. Definitely. It is also great way to get Russians closer to Europe – thanks to people-to-people contact. Exchange programs (especially for students) work perfect in this field. It causes more trust between people, which could be also noticeable in political relations in the future.
Here you can find interesting article on this issue: http://www.new.org.pl/2013-03-03,maly_ruch_graniczny.html
ReplyDeleteLiberalisation of visa regime between EU and Russia is one of the main aims of Moscow in relations with Brussels. Countries of Central Europe can take advantages of this fact in relations with Russia.