Panel XIb. Strategic Infrastructure of Ukraine. Building Resilience of Ukraine, Stronger Together
The panel was chaired by Mr. Marcel FOCA, Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center, Romania who was joined by Mr. Sergii NAZARENKO, Head of the Office of Identification and Counteraction to threats of critical infrastructure objects of NPC Ukrenergo, Ukraine (via VTC), Mr. Kaush ARHA, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council, former Senior Advisor on Strategic Engagement United States Agency for International Development, United States Agency for International Development, USA, Mr. Laurențiu MIHAI, General Manager, The Romanian Organisation for Serialisation of Medicines (OSMR), Romania and Mr. Cristian LUCACIU, Director, VIAROM, Romania.
Approximately 40% of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure has suffered significant damage due to Russian military attacks. The reconstruction process is anticipated to be complex, given the challenges associated with ensuring the country’s comprehensive energy security. Successfully implementing essential projects, such as developing electric energy storage capabilities or constructing hubs to prevent crises, requires modern and efficient equipment. In this context, Romania can offer relevant expertise in the reconstruction of Ukrainian infrastructure, considering its experience in addressing similar infrastructure issues over the past 20 years. Additionally, Romania has a solid background in managing pre-accession and post-accession funds to the European Union, knowledge that can be shared with Ukrainian partners.
Panel XIb. How will Ukraine’s reconstruction project be financed? Options, opportunities, and challenges
The chair of panel XIb was Ms. Antonia COLIBĂȘANU, Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy
Center & Chief Operating Officer & Senior Geopolitical Analyst, Geopolitical Futures, Romania. Among the speakers were Mr. Marcin CHRUŚCIEL, Director of the Government Plenipotentiary Office for Polish-Ukrainian Development Cooperation, Poland, Prof. Roman MAYDANYK, Professor of Civil Law at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine, Mr. Thomas DANS, Visiting Fellow at the Allison Center for Foreign Policy, The Heritage Foundation, USA, and Mr. Burcin ATAKAN, Deloitte Partner, Forensic Services Leader in Central Europe, Romania.
To secure new sources of financing for Ukraine, a solution for the use of frozen Russian assets must be urgently identified. Practical legal proposals are needed in this regard. At the same time, Ukraine’s reconstruction will not survive without private sector support. In this respect, the case of Poland illustrates effective cooperation between the state and the private sector, with Warsaw opening an office in Kyiv that offers support to Polish companies involved and interested in getting involved in the reconstruction process in Ukraine. Among the tools provided by the government to support companies are risk mitigation mechanisms or insurance and coverage for possible damages, also guaranteed at the legislative level. In the future, investments will have to be made in housing subsidies and a reconstruction based on regional and urban communities.
To attract private capital, Ukraine is making considerable efforts and implementing legislative projects aimed at fighting corruption and strengthening the independence of the national anti-corruption authorities. Another important aspect in the successful rebuilding of Ukraine is attracting labor by creating favorable living conditions for the return of Ukrainians who emigrated because of the war.
Panel XII. A US Strategy for the Black Sea: Challenges and Opportunities
The final panel, was chaired by Mr. Greg MELCHER, Chief Operations Officer, New Generation Warfare Centre, USA who was joined by Mr. James CARAFANO, Vice President of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies, The Heritage Foundation, USA, Ms. Antonia COLIBĂȘANU, Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center & Chief Operating Officer & Senior Geopolitical Analyst, Geopolitical Futures, Romania, Mrs. Yulia KLYMENKO, First Deputy Head of Transport & Infrastructure Committee at Verhovna Rada, Ukraine, Mr. Matthew BOYSE, Adjunct Fellow, Hudson Institute, fost adjunct al Secretarului adjunct responsabil pentru Europa Centrală în cadrul Departamentului de Stat al SUA, Kaush ARHA, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council, fost consilier principal pe probleme de angajament strategic, Agenţia SUA pentru Dezvoltare Internaţională, și Thomas DANS, Visiting Fellow la Allison Center for Foreign Policy, The Heritage Foundation, SUA.
For a long time, Black Sea security has often been seen as a local problem, only for the countries bordering the Black Sea. However, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has not only impacted Ukraine but the whole European and global community. Speakers stressed the importance of how the Black Sea should be presented as a vital area for US interests, given the current US focus on China and the Indo-Pacific. In particular, it should be noted that resolving the problems in the Black Sea becomes imperative to avoid complications at the intersection of the North-South Corridor and the East-West Corridor, a crucial area linking Asia and the West. Therefore, Black Sea security and capacity building of the littoral states is essential to ensure free trade in the Black Sea and the South-East Corridor.
The conference „The Reconstruction of Ukraine: A Strategic Role for Romania” was closed by George Scutaru, CEO of the New Strategy Center. In his speech, Mr. Scutaru stressed the need to maintain support for Ukraine to resist the aggression of the Russian Federation, also highlighting the importance of the reconstruction and territorial reintegration process. Finally, George Scutaru invited the audience to the 8th edition of the New Strategy Center’s Black Sea and Balkan Security Forum, scheduled for May 2024.
