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Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.

He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.

In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.

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How could it be a so small piece of land, namely the Kaliningrad region of Russia, to become the most important issue in the political discussions between Moscow and the European Union? The small enclave surrounded by Poland, Lithuania and the Baltic Sea has suddenly become a test for both Moscow and Brussels in their mutual relations.

What is at stake here? The European Union as we mentioned in one of our previous articles, has decided to expand eastward, including many countries from the former Eastern block and among them Poland and Lithuania. This process has to be completed by 2004. Becoming EU members, both countries will have to accept the European border control system and to impose visas to any person that needs an entry visa for the EU. On one hand, so far Russian citizens have had the right to travel without visas between mainland Russia and Kaliningrad through Poland or Lithuania. On the other hand, they had to show visas traveling to any EU country, the so-called Schengen style visa.

Thus the problem that stands now between Moscow and Brussels is that after becoming EU members, Poland and Lithuania will be forced to impose the same visa restrictions towards the Russian citizens that exist between Russia and the EU. From the EU point of view the situation is clear, there could be no exceptions for anyone because any exception will be a breach in the EU common borders. From the Moscow point of view the situation is more complicated. Russia doesn't want to have a situation when its citizens are obliged to apply at foreign embassies and consulates for visa just for traveling between two of its regions.

Kaliningrad is much more important for the both sides than it could appear at first glance given its small territory and population. The EU wants to use it as a place where it can test on limited scale different investment techniques before spreading them over the vast territory of Russia. In this regard any problem between Moscow and Brussels linked with the status of the Russian population in the region could have negative repercussions for the EU businessmen working in and traveling to and from Kaliningrad. So the confrontation on this matter isn't a viable option for the EU. On the other side, Russia also doesn't want any confrontation when at the same time it wishes to preserve the status quo. Preserving its enclave and military bases near the heart of Europe could help Russia have a stronger voice in the European political affairs.

Both parties have to discuss again the problem in November. Maybe not now but perhaps within months they will reach some compromise that won't give any side total victory but will open the door for the western investors to Kaliningrad.

Kaliningrad region: history notes

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