Über Jahrzehnte nach dem 2. Weltkrieg wurde an einer neuen Weltordnung gebastelt. Im Zentrum standen die Vereinten Nationen mit vielen Unter- und Schwesterorganisationen. Parallel dazu gab es verschiedene Abrüstungsabkommen vor allem zwischen den Großmächten USA und Sowjetunion/Russland. Und Europa hat einen noch nie dagewesene Einigungsprozess in Gang gesetzt - parallel zur Dekolonisierung. All diese politischen Entscheidungen und Maßnahmen wurden von einer Ausdehnung der globalen Handelsbeziehungen begleitet. Schritt um Schritt schien diese umfassende Globalisierung zu einer regelbasierten und friedlichen Welt zu führen.

The EU -- or, more precisely, its predecessor -- was and continues to be a reaction to past European wars and mutual destruction. This becomes especially clear if one examines the documents and declarations preceding the construction of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). However, an additional characteristic of the EU has been emphasized in recent times by scholars such as Timothy Snyder and Ivan Krastev. The ECSC was formed by former -- at the time, still active -- colonial powers. With the process of decolonialization, the EU was later transformed into a new type of empire, an empire that sought to convince other countries to join based on a regime of rule of law, individual freedoms, and free trade. The conception and ideology of such an “empire” is in strong contrast to the old-fashioned concept embraced by today’s Russia.

Der Ukraine Krieg geht in sein sechstes Monat. Und noch immer ist kein Ende abzusehen. Zwar gab es jüngst eine Vereinbarung zwischen Russland und der Ukraine - auf Vermittlung der UNO und der Türkei - über Weizenlieferungen aus der Ukraine. Und das ist in Bezug auf die Nahrungsmitteknappheit und den Hunger in etlichen Regionen der Welt ein wichtiger Schritt. Es ist schwierig zu erkennen ob es weitere - informelle und geheime - Gesprächskontakte zwischen den beiden Kriegsparteien gibt.

I am still very much under the impression of the interview with Olena Halushka, a fighter against corruption in Ukraine, about the future status of Ukraine as a candidate for the EU membership. ( Watch the interview….) Asked about the future relationship with Russia she underlined, that reconciliation with Russia is only possible after a clear victory for Ukraine and a “deputinization”, demilitarization, denuclearization of Russia, the punishment of all generals etc. Emotionally one can understand this hard and uncompromising line, but is it a way to look forward, even considering all the atrocities committed by Russia in Ukraine? Can Ukraine with this stringent line join a European Union, which is built on reconciliation and cooperation?

Fifty years ago, an important decision was made in Vienna: the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (WIIW) was founded. As president of the Institute, I took the opportunity at the traditional spring summit to highlight the trajectory of Europe over these past 50 years. Europe has been divided, and no end to this division was foreseen 50 years ago. However, behind the decision to establish such an institute was the idea -- or rather the hope -- of a slow convergence between Europe’s east and west. Needless to say, things turned out differently. We have witnessed a mixture of gradual developments and disruptive changes as well as a combination of integration and disintegration -- sometimes at the same time.