Federalism, Frozen Conflict, or Inner Neighbor: Combining Post-Conflict Peace Efforts with Ukraine's European Integration

Abstract

Recent conflicts in Europe - such as Balkan wars in the nineties and tensions in post-Soviet countries after the USSR's collapse - were addressed, among others, through federalization, freezing the conflict, or de facto divide within de jure one country solution. As stability across Europe remains fragile, the applicability and benefit of each of these methods needs to be reevaluated. This paper addresses federalization process in Bosnia and Herzegovina, frozen conflict in Moldova, and an inner neighbor/divided country scenario in Cyprus; further, it analyzes the key features in each of the post- conflict scenarios and compares them with Ukraine's current conflict and its EU integration process. The aim of the paper is to determine the essential components for different conflict resolution approaches, and their applicability in achieving stability and improving foreign relations. Ukraine's government is engaged in peace talks over occupied territories while also maintaining its efforts for strengthening its partnership with the EU. The negotiations have not managed to reach a sustainable solution to the conflict, but they highlight the potential of following various models for stabilizing the country while pursuing Ukraine's EU-oriented foreign policy. The paper analyses keys conflict-resolution...