The Russian regime will not part with the idea of being at least to a degree in charge of the former Soviet republics. The attempts to create a Eurasian Economic Union are yet another proof to the fact. The relevant initiative was voiced by Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in an article titled “The New Integration Project for Eurasia: Future Born Today,” published by Izvestiya on October 4.
“Reproducing a structure similar to that of the USSR is an impossible task, but a fully-fledged economic union could be created on the basis of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space. The creation of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space lays foundations for the prospects of formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. At the same time the membership of the Customs Union and the CES will expand, as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan join in. We are not going to stop there and put an ambitious goal: to achieve the next, higher level of integration, the Eurasian Union,” wrote the Russian prime minister.
He also assures that integration projects in the post-Soviet space do not clash with the European choice. “We welcome new partners, first and foremost the CIS nations. At the same time, we are not going to press or push anyone. It must be a nation’s sovereign decision, dictated by its own long-term national interests,” remarks Putin. He admits that “some of our neighbors account for their reluctance to participate in the advanced integration projects on the post-Soviet space by the fact that it allegedly contradicts their European choice.”
Putin tries to convince us that such opinions are wrong. “We are not going to build fences or oppose anyone. The Eurasian Union is going to be built on universal integration principles as part and parcel of Great Europe, united by common values of freedom, democracy, and market laws,” he stated.
Russia’s prime minister believes that joining the Eurasian Union will, besides direct economic advantages, allow each member to integrate into Europe faster and from stronger premises. “Besides, the economically logical and well-balanced system of partnership between the Eurasian Union and the EU is capable of creating feasible conditions for the re-shaping of the geopolitical and geo-economic configuration of the entire continent, and would have an indisputable positive global effect,” notes Putin.
The Day asked Ihor BURAKIVSKY, director, Institute for Economic Research and Political Consultations, to comment the article by the Russian prime minister, who is going to run for the president of the Russian Federation next year.
“We should start from the fact that, from the standpoint of economic theory and international practice, an economic union has very definite parameters: what is going to be united, how is it going to be united, and what do we get as a result. Besides, there are many other aspects.
“Today, out of all known formations, the European Union represents the highest and most perfect form of European integration. Which is why what Mr. Putin says and what he sees as a certain integration union is, to my mind, an exclusively political project. I just don’t believe in its sustainability and economic efficiency.”
What do you think of his protestations to the effect that the Eurasian Union would be built on universal integration principles as part and parcel of Great Europe, united by common values of freedom, democracy, and laws of the market?
“Fine words are these, and I’m prepared to sign under each of them. But there is the question of implementation. For quite a long time we used to have a curious integration amalgamation: the Union State of Russia and Belarus. They had a sort of parliament faction, and they passed a sort of budget. Was it a fully-fledged economic union and a fully-fledged state like, say, the Swiss Confederation? Apparently the answer is ‘no.’ We can indeed declare such terms, and set such ambitious goals. All this can be done – but in a purely economic sense, in terms of integration processes, I do not believe in the prospects of this sort of union.”
Putin also said that “now the Customs Union (and further on the Eurasian Union as well) will join the dialog with the EU. Thus, joining the Eurasian Union will, besides direct economic advantages, allow each member to integrate into Europe faster and from stronger premises. Does Putin really care for his neighbors’ integration into Europe?
“We are discussing a possibility of arrangement between Europe and this union, whose effectiveness and feasibility I call into question. It’s figment of the imagination. Theoretically we can adduce the example of the European Free Trade Association and the European Union, which are both extremely highly integrated, with the EU regulatory norms effective anywhere on the European space of the free trade association. The only thing that is not integrated is the process of decision-making. The decisions are taken in Brussels, there is a mechanism to transform decisions into rules of behavior, let’s say, in the market of the European Free Trade Association. Basically, there are examples of cooperation among integrated structures. Yet let’s not start talking on what is going to happen in years to come. Instead, let us discuss the implementation of the very idea of the creating a fully-fledged union like this.”
There is still no Free Trade Area within the CIS borders.
“Generally speaking, integration processes on the territory of the CIS and their implementation is a subject for a separate conversation. There was a lot of talk about the creation of a common agricultural market, which never happened.
“Once, an attempt was made to create a Eurasian Association of Coal and Metal, but it remained just a talking shop. A really serious analysis leaves no room for real integration. Putin’s assertions and referring to common principles will remain empty talk to me as long as there is no fact behind it.”
Just to conclude what you said: don’t you think the timing for Putin’s article is perfect, now that Ukraine can sign the agreements on association and free trade area with the EU at any moment?
“We should understand that now, it seems to me, Putin’s article fits in the domestic political discussion directly in Russia. Putin is heading for the election, and clear enough, there should be just the right idea which would be consonant with the aspirations of the Russian voters. In this sense, let us look at it in the light of the political processes going on in Russia at the moment.”
