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Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine on the next Steps in EU Integration
On 26 May 2023, the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) and the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS) had the honour of hosting a distinguished keynote speaker, Olga Stefanishyna (Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine) who shared her insights on Ukraine’s progress with reforms on the way to full EU integration.
Did you miss the chance to attend the event “Ukraine´s reforms on the way to EU integration” with special guest Olga Stefanishyna (Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine) together with Fredrik Löjdquist (Director of SCEEUS) and Torbjörn Becker (Director of SITE)?
Read the highlights from the event, with discussions on the next steps in EU integration and on Ukraine’s expectations from the Vilnius Summit as well as on strengthening European security in the face of Russia’s war of aggression and the role of Ukraine in this process.
Torbjörn Becker welcomes everyone and introduces keynote speaker Olga Stefanishyna (Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine).
“While Euro-Atlantic integration is one of the most sensitive issues at the moment, our resolve is as strong as on February 24, 2022, when we woke up with the sound of explosions from Russian bombs. We understand that Ukraine has already changed not only the geopolitical reality but changed the world with our resolve”, says Deputy Prime Minister Stefanishyna.
“Everything we do to transform ourselves, we do it for our people, in honour of those people who laid down their life and will not be able to see Ukraine in the EU. Challenges are enormous but we are happy to see that the EU has shown unity and resolve. The decision to allow Ukraine membership status has already strengthened us enormously”, says Deputy Prime Minister Stefanishyna.
Fredrik Löjdquist and the audience paying close attention to the Deputy Prime Minister’s keynote speech.
“The reform of the judiciary is going through urgent measures to increase integrity, to make sure that no judge will remain unpunished for corruption or vested interests. We have now the ”privilege of war”, where the tolerance for corruption is not only zero but pursued very aggressively. This momentum we use to its full scale. By the moment the war is over, we want to be ready to join the EU”, says Deputy Prime Minister Stefanishyna.
Torbjörn Becker takes notes of Deputy Prime Minister’s thought-provoking keynote speech for the panel discussion.
“By the middle of next year, I hope I will be sitting among NATO countries with security guarantees for Ukraine, with de-occupied territory, and a successful track record of reforms”, says Deputy Prime Minister Stefanishyna during the panel discussion together with Torbjörn Becker and Fredrik Löjdquist.
From left: Torbjörn Becker, Olga Stefanishyna and Fredrik Löjdquist.
We would like to thank everyone who participated during the event “Ukraine´s reforms on the way to EU integration” on 26 May, 2023. Special thanks to Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna for the opportunity to host your visit at the Stockholm School of Economics.
Photos by Dominick Nilsson.
Energy Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainable Future
On 11 May, 2023, the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) and the Forum for Research on Eastern Europe: Climate and Environment (FREECE) hosted the 2023 SITE Energy Talk. This year it focused on the opportunities and challenges that the energy infrastructure will face in the near future.
As we move towards sustainable, low-carbon energy systems, it is essential to guarantee the energy infrastructure’s resilience against various challenges, such as supply chain disruptions, network congestion, rising energy costs, and other potential threats. Valuable insights have been gained from recent shocks such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the energy crisis, and the ongoing Ukrainian war concerning the energy infrastructure’s resilience.
How well-prepared is the Nordic energy infrastructure for the green transition from a security of energy supply perspective? How has Russia’s full-scale invasion impacted Ukrainian energy infrastructure and energy security in the Baltic Sea region? These and other topics were discussed by leading energy experts in the 2023 SITE Energy Talk.
SPEAKERS
- Ewa Lazarczyk Carlson, Associate Professor at Reykjavik University
- Yuliya Markuts, Head of the Center of Public Finance and Governance at the Kyiv School of Economics
- Igor Piddubnyi, Analyst on Energy sector Damages and Losses, Researcher at the Center for Food and Land Use Research at Kyiv School of Economics
- Mikael Toll, Senior Advisor at Ramboll Management Consulting
MODERATORS
The event was moderated by Chloé Le Coq, Professor of Economics at the University Paris-Panthéon-Assas (CRED) and Research Fellow at SITE, and Elena Paltseva, Associate Professor at SITE.
Democratic Backsliding and Electoral Autocracies
The Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) and the Forum for Research on Media and Democracy in Eastern Europe (FROMDEE) invite paper submissions to a one-day conference on “Democratic backsliding and electoral autocracies” with a keynote lecture by Arturas Rozenas (New York University).
Conference
The UN’s Secretary-General António Guterres recently observed that “across the world, democracy is backsliding”. This trend encompasses new democracies that have drifted towards electoral autocracy and established democracies where political polarization threatens institutional norms. Research can shed light on where and when democratic institutions are fragile and what can help make them resilient.
The Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) and the Forum for Research on Media and Democracy in Eastern Europe (FROMDEE) is organising a one-day conference on “Democratic backsliding and electoral autocracies” with a keynote lecture by Arturas Rozenas (New York University). The conference will take place on 13 October 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Call for Papers
We would like to invite paper and extended abstract submissions, as well as expressions of interest in attending the conference by 15 June 2023 at the link below. We welcome submissions from economics and political science on threats to liberal democratic institutions, as well as other topics in political economy. We would especially like to encourage researchers working on or based in Eastern Europe to apply.
There is no conference registration fee and meals will be provided for all participants. Some funding is available for travel and accommodation, with preference given to presenters and participants from Eastern Europe.
Submission form: Click here
Download the call for paper in pdf-file: “Democratic backsliding and electoral autocracies”
Important dates:
- 15 June 2023 – Submission deadline (full papers or extended abstracts >10 pages)
- July 2023 – Notification of acceptance
- 13 October 2023 – SITE Academic Conference on “Democratic Backsliding and Electoral Autocracies”
The conference is organised as part of the FROMDEE initiative – the Forum for Research on Media and Democracy in Eastern Europe supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
In case of technical difficulties, please send your submission to: site.free.conferences@gmail.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed during events and conferences are those of the authors; they do not necessarily reflect those of the FREE Network and its research institutes.
Back from the Ashes: Swedish and Global Contribution to Ukraine’s Reconstruction
What role should Sweden and the EU have when it is time to rebuild Ukraine with development aid and other means? SITE’s researchers Anders Olofsgård and Maria Perrotta Berlin have written a report “Back from the ashes: Swedish and global contribution to Ukraine’s reconstruction”.
The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is an example of a situation where development aid, alongside military support not defined as aid, takes on many roles. In addition to humanitarian aid, during ongoing warfare, development aid has a role in helping to maintain social functions and restore vital infrastructure.
In a future post-conflict situation, there is a shift in role from humanitarian aid to more development aid in order to rebuild what the Russian attack has destroyed. Reconstruction needs to go far beyond physical infrastructure. The needs are also far greater than what development aid alone can finance. Although development aid and other public funds will play a major role in the early stages, private capital is necessary for long-term reconstruction.
Full Report (in Swedish)
The EBA report estimates the current cost of the war and presents key lessons from previous international reconstruction efforts. The main emphasis is on the future global support to Ukraine, in terms of content, financing needs and organization, and what this means for Swedish aid.
EBA report: “Back from the ashes: Swedish and global contribution to Ukraine’s reconstruction“.
About EBA
The Expert Group for Aid Studies (EBA) is a government committee mandated to evaluate and analyse the direction, governance and implementation of Sweden’s official development assistance, with a specific focus on results and effectiveness. EBA’s aim is to contribute to the efficient implementation of well-designed aid, focusing primarily on overarching issues within Swedish development assistance rather than individual projects. EBA consists of an Expert Group of ten members and a secretariat placed in Stockholm.
Georgian Economy and One Year of Russia’s War in Ukraine: Trends and Risks
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine profoundly impacted the global economy, immediately sending shockwaves across the globe. The attack of a country that was once a major energy supplier to Europe on the country which was one of the top food exporters in the world, sent food and fuel prices spiralling, causing major energy shortages and the prospect of protracted recession in the United States and the European Union.
The unprovoked and brutal aggression resulted in nearly universal condemnation and widespread sanctions placed on Russia by the United States, the EU, and other Western allies. Financial sanctions were perhaps the most unexpected and significant with the potential for immediate impact on Russia’s neighbours, including those that did not formally join the sanctions regime. In addition to sanctions, the major consequence of the war was mass migration waves, particularly from Ukraine, but also from Russia and Belarus to neighbouring countries.
At the start of the war, it was expected that the Georgian economy would be severely and negatively impacted for the following reasons:
- First, as a former Soviet republic, Georgia historically maintained close economic trade ties with both Russia and Ukraine. The ties with Russia have weakened considerably in the wake of the 2008 Russo-Georgian war but remained significant. Russia was the primary market for imports of staple foods into Georgia, such as wheat flour, maize, buckwheat, edible oils, etc. Russia and Ukraine were both important export markets for Georgia. Russia was absorbing about 60 percent of Georgian wine exports and 47 percent of mineral water exports, while Ukraine was one of the leading importers of alcohol and spirits from Georgia (46 percent of Georgia’s exports). Tourism and remittances are other areas where Georgia is significantly tied to Russia and somewhat weaker to Ukraine. Before the pandemic, in 2019 Russia accounted for 24 percent of all tourism revenues, while Ukraine for 6 percent. Remittances from Russia accounted for 16.5 percent of total incoming transfers in 2021.
- Second, while the Georgian government chose to largely keep a neutral stance on the war (announcing at one point that they would not join or impose sanctions against Russia), the main financial and trade international sanctions were still in effect in Georgia due to international obligations and close business ties with the West. These factors were reinforced by strong support for Ukraine among the Georgian population, where the memory of the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008 remains uppermost.
- In addition, Georgia is a net energy importer, and while the dependence on energy imports from Russia is not significant, the rising prices would have affected Georgia profoundly.
Original publication: This policy paper was originally published in the ISET Policy Institute Policy Briefs section by Yaroslava Babych, Lead Economist of ISET Policy Institute. To read the full policy paper, please visit the website of ISET-PI.
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in policy briefs and other publications are those of the authors; they do not necessarily reflect those of the FREE Network and its research institutes.
A Gender-equality Lens on Rebuilding Ukraine
If the reconstruction of Ukraine is to result in sustainable development and bring tangible benefits to all Ukrainians, the principles of “building-back better” need to take into account the specificities of gender in the reconstruction process.
Researchers from the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) and the Forum for Research on Gender Economics (FROGEE) together with other gender economics experts are releasing the policy paper “Rebuilding Ukraine: the Gender Dimension of Reconstruction” on International women’s day 2023 to highlight the importance of a gender perspective in some of the focus areas of the CEPR Report on rebuilding Ukraine.
The authors argue, that if the reconstruction is to result in stable, sustainable development and bring tangible benefits to all Ukrainians, the principles of “building-back better” need to take into account the specificities of gender. Arguments build on the growing literature developed initially in the area of public sector budgeting, which highlights the crucial role of the gender focus to achieve economically efficient as well as a socially just allocation of public resources.
The Gender Dimension in Budgetary Planning
The principles developed in the gender budgeting approach have in the past decades been applied to central and local budget expenditure planning as well as in other extraordinary contexts involving public funding, such as conditions of post-disaster and post-conflict reconstruction. Before the Russian aggression in February 2022, Ukraine was one of the countries which took a number of initiatives to include the gender dimension in budgetary planning. The concept of gender budgeting is well rooted in Ukrainian public policy making and its principles should thus come naturally to key policy making institutions in the discussion of plans for the country’s reconstruction.
The Paper Highlights the Following:
- Outlining the key principles of gender budgeting drawing on the existing literature and examples of successful implementation of gender budgeting at central and local government level.
- Examples of how gender budgeting has been applied in the case of allocation of public funds in extraordinary conditions of post-conflict and post-disaster reconstruction.
- The record of the Ukrainian government concerning the implementation of gender budgeting during peace times, prior to the Russian invasion. This is followed by a detailed discussion of how the principles of gender budgeting can in the future be applied in the realisation of the reconstruction and recovery plan for Ukraine, going through the physical environment, human capital, and governance.
Contact for Interviews
For more info, please contact the following researchers:
Pamela Campa, Associate Professor at Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE).
Email: pamela.campa@hhs.se
Phone: +46 (8) 736 9686
Mobile: +46 72 449 80 24
Maria Perrotta Berlin, Assistant Professor at SITE.
Email: maria.perrotta@hhs.se
Phone: +46 (8) 736 9690
About FROGEE
In 2019 the FREE Network initiated the Forum for Research on Gender Economics (FROGEE). The aim of FROGEE is to contribute to the discussion on gender inequality, with a specific focus on the region of Central and Eastern Europe. By highlighting different dimensions of gender inequality and its consequences for socio-economic development, FROGEE aims at bringing the issue of gender equality to the focus of both the general public and policy makers. These objectives are addressed through publication of reviews and policy briefs, organization of conferences, seminars, and workshops, as well as further development of research collaboration on gender economics with other institutions.
What More Besides Weapons Does Ukraine Need to Survive as a Nation?
As of today, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has persisted for a year. While several countries have helped Ukraine with military, financial and humanitarian aid, Ukraine requires additional assistance to endure the conflict with Russia. What other forms of support and aid are needed for Ukraine’s survival? And how can the EU and Sweden support Ukraine’s victory?
The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) hosted a seminar in which Ukraine’s needs were discussed from an economic and political science perspective by several leading economists, including:
- Nataliia Shapoval, Director of the KSE Institute at the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE)
- Torbjörn Becker, IVA member and Director of the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics at the Stockholm School of Economics (SITE)
- Fredrik Löjdquist, Director of the Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS)
- Maria Perrotta Berlin, Assistant Professor at the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics.
Nataliia Shapoval, Chairman of the KSE Institute at the Kyiv School of Economics, joined the seminar from Kyiv to share her views. According to Shapoval,
“Tougher sanctions across the board, hefty sanctions on energy, additional sanctions on trade, and more control over financial transactions with Russia are required by the outside world right now.”
As Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has lasted for a year, seminar experts advocated for tougher sanctions against Russia and discussed Ukraine’s needs from an economic and political science perspective.
About IVA
The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) is an independent academy with a mission “…to promote engineering and economic sciences and the advancement of business and industry for the benefit of society.” Read more: IVA website
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed during events and conferences are those of the authors; they do not necessarily reflect those of the FREE Network and its research institutes.
Leading Experts Advocate Tougher Sanctions Against Russia in the Wake of Year-long Aggression Against Ukraine
As of today, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has persisted for a year. While several countries have helped Ukraine with military, financial and humanitarian aid, Ukraine requires additional assistance to endure the conflict with Russia. What other forms of support and aid are needed for Ukraine’s survival? And how can the EU and Sweden support Ukraine’s victory?
The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) hosted a seminar in which Ukraine’s needs were discussed from an economic and political science perspective by several leading economists, including:
- Nataliia Shapoval, Director of the KSE Institute at the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE)
- Torbjörn Becker, IVA member and Director of the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics at the Stockholm School of Economics (SITE)
- Fredrik Löjdquist, Director of the Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS)
- Maria Perrotta Berlin, Assistant Professor at the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics.
Nataliia Shapoval, Chairman of the KSE Institute at the Kyiv School of Economics, joined the seminar from Kyiv to share her views. According to Shapoval,
“Tougher sanctions across the board, hefty sanctions on energy, additional sanctions on trade, and more control over financial transactions with Russia are required by the outside world right now.”
As Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has lasted for a year, seminar experts advocated for tougher sanctions against Russia and discussed Ukraine’s needs from an economic and political science perspective.
Seminar Video
About IVA
The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) is an independent academy with a mission “…to promote engineering and economic sciences and the advancement of business and industry for the benefit of society.” Read more: IVA website
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed during events and conferences are those of the authors; they do not necessarily reflect those of the FREE Network and its research institutes.
Torbjörn Becker Elected as One of the New Members of the IVA’s Economics Division
Torbjörn Becker, Director of the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE), was elected as one of the new Fellow members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences together with 38 other prominent researchers and experts in the private and public sectors.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) has been a meeting place for Sweden’s future for more than 100 years. Serving as a unique intersection for academia, business, and policy-making, IVA brings together the expertise and experience of about 1.300 Academy Fellows and 250 member companies. IVA is financed through grants from the business community, foundation funds and direct government funding and is independent of individual interests, ideologies and party politics.
About Torbjörn Becker
Torbjörn Becker has been the Director of SITE at the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden since 2006 and is a board member of several economics research institutes in Eastern Europe, including the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE).
Prior to this, he worked for nine years at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where his work focused on international macro, economic crises and issues related to the international financial system. He holds a Ph.D. from the Stockholm School of Economics and has been published in top academic journals and has contributed to several books and policy reports focusing on Russia and Eastern Europe.
Selected Publications by Torbjörn Becker
- Financing Ukraine’s victory: Why and how (2022)
- A blueprint for the reconstruction of Ukraine (2022)
- IMF’s New SDR Allocation—Why Belarus Is “Getting Money From the Fund” (2021)
- Does the Russian Stock Market Care About Navalny (2021)
- Economic Growth and Putin’s Approval Ratings —The Return of the Fridge (2019)
- The Russian economy under Putin (so far) (2019)
How Should the Reconstruction of Ukraine Be Financed and Organized?
Did you miss the chance to attend the book launch event “Rebuilding Ukraine: Principles and Policies” presented by Torbjörn Becker, Beatrice Weder di Mauro and Veronika Movchan on 11 January? Watch the recordings to learn more about their framework for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction co-written together with leading scholars and experts.
On Wednesday, 11 January, 2023, Torbjörn Becker, Beatrice Weder di Mauro and Veronika Movchan presented their framework for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction from their book “Rebuilding Ukraine: Principles and policies” at the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE). This event was co-organized together with the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR).
About the Book
This book offers a comprehensive analysis of what Ukraine should become after the war and what tools policymakers can use to fulfill these goals. It provides perspectives from leading scholars and practitioners: each chapter of the book covers a specific sector, but there is a natural overlap across the chapters because Ukraine’s reconstruction should be a comprehensive transformation of the country. With such a complex task, it is important to have a clear vision of the goals. The leitmotif of this book is clear: reconstruction is not about rebuilding Ukraine to the pre-war state, it is about a deep modernization of the country. All critical elements of the economy and society will have to leapfrog and undergo reforms to help Ukraine escape the post-Soviet legacy and become a full-fledged democracy with a modern economy, strong institutions, and a powerful defence sector.
The book repeatedly emphasizes that allies’ aid will be absolutely essential but, to make the reconstruction a true success story, Ukraine’s future should be decided by the Ukrainian people: Ukrainians should own this process. The State is no longer some hostile and alien construct which is there to repress them: people are starting to realize that they need to own it, i.e., protect their rights and fulfill their responsibilities as citizens. Building on the wave of patriotism, establishing mechanisms for genuine citizen participation will help prolong national unity and volunteer enthusiasm of Ukrainians beyond the war, but more importantly, it will ensure the democratic development of the country.
List of Participants
- Beatrice Weder di Mauro (President at Centre for Economic Policy Research, Professor of International Economics at Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies)
- Torbjörn Becker (Director of the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics, SITE)
- Veronika Movchan (Research Director at Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting)
- Moderator: Anders Olofsgård (Deputy director of SITE)
Event Photos
Photo of Anders Olofsgård as he welcomes participants and guests to the event.
Photo of Beatrice Weder di Mauro as she introduces the overall concept and idea of the book.
Photo of Beatrice Weder di Mauro.
Photo of Torbjörn Becker as he presented the book chapter “Anti-corruption policies in the reconstruction of Ukraine”.
Photo of the audience together with Torbjörn Becker.
From right: Veronika Movchan as she presented the book chapter “International trade and foreign direct investment”.
From left: Torbjörn Becker, Beatrice Weder di Mauro and Anders Olofsgård during the Q&A session.
On screen: Veronika Movchan. At SSE, from left: Torbjörn Becker, Beatrice Weder di Mauro and Anders Olofsgård during the Q&A session.