Ukraine-EU relations in the context of war, electoral processes and rights of ethnic communities discussed by participants of the international conference at the Faculty of Social Sciences
On 4-5 October, the Faculty of Social Sciences of Uzhhorod University hosted the IX International Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Format of Development of Relations between Ukraine and the European Union in the Context of the Russian-Ukrainian War, Electoral Processes and the Rights of National Minorities’.
The conference was co-organised by the Department of Education and Science, Youth and Sports of the Zakarpatska Regional Military Administration, Uzhhorod National University, in particular the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, the Faculty of International Economic Relations and the Association of Political Scientists and International Studies of UzhNU. The partners of the event are the University of Presov and the Research Institute of Political Regionalism of UzhNU.
At the opening, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Yurii Ostapets greeted the audience: ‘For the ninth year in a row, we have been holding a conference in the format of the development of Ukraine-EU relations. This year's topic was the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war, electoral processes and the rights of national minorities. More than 130 scholars have expressed their interest in participating. What is particularly pleasing is that 27 students from different universities of the country came at the invitation of our youth. I am grateful to the co-organisers and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, thanks to whom we are able to hold this event.’
Myroslava Lendiel, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of UzhNU, addressed the audience with a welcoming speech: ‘Despite the situation in the country, life goes on: scientific forums and conferences are held. At our workplace, as scientists, researchers, teachers or students, we must do our job with dignity, study the socio-political processes taking place in Ukraine and in relations with our European partners.’ The Vice-Rector thanked the Association of Political Scientists and International Studies of UzhNU, which launched the conference and annually develops its programme, as well as the Student Scientific Society of the FSS for its active participation.
Mykola Palinchak, Dean of the Faculty of International Economic Relations, also joined the congratulations: ‘I would like to note the fruitful cooperation between our faculty and the Faculty of Social Sciences, which resulted in the organisation of this important conference. Special thanks to all the guests who joined us today. I wish the participants fruitful work and interesting discussions!’
Anatoliy Kliuchkovych, Head of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at UzhNU, welcomed the audience via the screen: ‘Today we have gathered at the traditional conference, which is held every year despite the Covid, war and other difficulties. According to the programme, the event is attended by many scientists from both Ukraine and abroad, and most importantly, by many young people. I am confident that these young people will present their reports in an interesting and worthy manner and listen to their senior colleagues, as the conference is more relevant than ever. At this time of great challenge, it is very important for Ukraine to develop new thoughts and ideas and look for solutions to the challenges we face.’
Anatolii Myroshnyk, Chairman of the Student Scientific Society of the Faculty of Social Sciences, said: ‘I am grateful to all students from our university and other universities for joining the conference. The issues are really important and complex. It is the relations with the European Union, which cover economics, sociology, political science, psychology, etc. Your very presence during the work of the sections, simple listening and the opportunity to ask questions is what will help you personally, society and science in general.’
The plenary session was opened by Rostyslav Balaban, Leading Research Fellow at the Department of Political Institutions and Processes of the I.F. Kuras Institute of Political and Ethnic Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, with a report entitled ‘The Russian World Paradigm as a Security Threat’.
The next speaker was Yurii Ostapets, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, who presented an analysis of electoral processes in the European Union in 2024.
Vasyl Buslenko, Head of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Lesiia Ukrayinka Volyn National University, spoke about Ukrainian-Polish relations in the context of external threats in 2022-2024.
The joint report ‘Comparative Characteristics of the Policy of the Governments of the Slovak Republic and Hungary towards Ukraine during the Russian-Ukrainian War: Rhetoric and Practice’ was presented by Oleksandr Bertolon, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the NGO ‘Association of Political Scientists and International Studies of UzhNU,’ and Stefan Yizhak, Associate Professor of Ethnology and Non-European Studies at the University of St Cyril and Methodius in Trnava.
Oleksiy Shafranyosh, Chairman of the Board of the NGO ‘Association of Political Science and International Studies Graduates of UzhNU’, spoke about Russia's hybrid warfare in social media on the example of Zakarpattia.
Relations between Ukraine and the EU in the context of war, electoral processes and the rights of ethnic communities were discussed by the participants of the international conference at the FSN
A brief overview of Ukrainian legislation on national minorities with a special focus on Ukrainian-Hungarian diplomatic relations was presented by Csilla Fedynets, PhD of the Centre for Social Sciences of the Hungarian Research Network. The plenary session was concluded by Oleksandr Hryshko, a second-year student of the Faculty of History at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, with a report on the status of veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war in the military and post-war society.
The work continued in 7 sections. They considered the causes and consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war for Ukraine and Central European countries; Ukraine's position in the modern world in various aspects; electoral processes in the European Union and their impact on the development of relations with Ukraine; public-administrative relations and peculiarities of the work of the political and administrative elite and public authorities in the wartime and post-war period; ethno-political security and stability in Central European countries; Ukrainian society under martial law; as well as education, science, culture and religion as factors of conservation.
On 5 October, the participants of the International Scientific Conference had a study tour of Uzhhorod and Zakarpattia region.Based on the conference materials, a collection of abstracts will be published, which will be assigned an international standard ISBN number. Participants will also receive certificates of participation in the conference.
