Bundesheer

The Black Sea region, one of the world’s most dynamic and fluid areas in the post-Cold War and post-Soviet era, includes almost a dozen countries stretching from the Balkans to the Caspian Sea and lies on the periphery of Europe. While developments there might seem removed from or unrelated to the core issues of European security, intra-state and inter-state developments would still have close if indirect bearing on European peace and security. Economically, the Black Sea’s importance for Europe primary lies in its position as the shortest link to the natural resource-rich Caspian Sea-basin and Central Asia. It seems thus likely that Europe would benefit politically, culturally and economically if the Black Sea region evolves into a prosperous democratic space. No longer controlled by Moscow, the newly independent states in the region today constitute the autonomous elements of an open and pluralist system. In particular, Ukraine’s divorce from Russia has been the decisive event that has established a new geostrategic situation in the Black Sea region, by creating a neutral space between Russia and Europe.

Furthermore, the region as a whole is turning its face towards Europe in anticipation of integration in European structures or in settling for partnership, and all the countries of the region have been included in the most important European structures for regional security. While the area enjoys pluralism, greater transparency and initiatives for regional cooperation, security/strategic concerns of the past (e.g. threats to Russia’s territorial integrity) as well as commercial and environmental stakes (e.g. question of Turkish Straits) are important sources of conflicts and regional instability. It would be in Europe’s interest to avoid that the region generates sustained poverty, dictatorship, and war, especially war among the bigger powers.