Published: March 24th, 2016

March 24, 2016, 12:00

Lomonosov housing MSU

Organizers: Eurasian Club of MGIMO Center and continental cooperation (Munich).

On the theme:
25 years after the Soviet Union collapsed in the former Soviet Union finally a new integration association - the Eurasian Economic Union has appeared. But the EAEC, which is based on market principles, the rule of national sovereignty and decorated under the WTO rules, should not become the new Soviet Union. The ultimate goal of the Eurasian economic integration - the creation of a common space "from Lisbon to Vladivostok".
Is it possible on the background of the Ukrainian crisis, the conclusion of "mega-deals" between the EU and the EAEC?

Participants:
Timur Suleimenov, Zoe Morochkovo, Ivan Timofeev, Tatiana Isachenko, Vladimir Ivanov, Kirill Koktysh, Dmitry Kondrashov, Olga Padbyarozkin, Anastasia Stepanova, Yury Kofner, E. Novikov

Moderator:
Yury Kofner, Head of the Eurasian Club of MGIMO (University) MFA

March 24 at the fourth Moscow Economic Forum in Lomonosov housing of the Moscow State University a scientific-practical conference "The common economic space from Lisbon to Vladivostok: prospects for EU integration and the EAEC", organized by the Eurasian Club of MGIMO and the Center for continental cooperation (Munich) was hosted. Discussion was moderated by the head of the Eurasian Club of MGIMO (U) MIAYuri Kofner.

The central theme of the round table was the problematics and the perspective of building a partnership between the European Union and the EAEC, which not so long ago appeared on the former Soviet Union and was based on market principles, the rule of national sovereignty and issued under WTO rules. Participants discussed whether the actual signing of the "mega-deals" between the EU and the EAEC is real, and what may be in that agreement.

Discussion moderator Yury Kofner recalled that the purpose of the Eurasian integration is the creation of a common integration partnership from Lisbon to Vladivostok, is the realm of the possible cooperation between the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union. "The issue of the debate is whether it is possible to cooperate on the background of the Ukrainian crisis", - the MEF expert said.

MGIMO Professor Tatiana Isachenko named obstacles standing in the way of the integration of the EU and the EAEC, which in many ways exacerbated the events of the last three years whitch have made dramatic adjustments to the existence of our country, and in the existence of Europe, where there was a certain geopolitical fracture. Firstly, according to the speaker, it is the instability of the EAEC and the conflicts that exist within the organization. Secondly, it is the political status of Crimea: Europe categorically stated the unwillingness to recognize the Crimean issue in the treatment of Russia. Third, as the Isachenko noted, is that American business very actively focuses on the transatlantic partnership.

Roundtable participants also talked about the "Silk Road" opportunities for interfacing and EAEC economic zone, which implies a coordinated policy aimed at the removal of administrative and technological barriers as part of a joint transport corridors and logistics centers. Speakers pointed out that China has established financial institutions that are ready to invest in similar structural projects.

During the round table the ways of further development of the Russian economy has been marked. This is a continuation of import substitution policies aimed at creating growth potential niches in various sectors of the economy, creating a more comfortable environment for business, the formation of competitive human resources, establishment and improvement of economic relations with the countries of the region, the full development of the internal infrastructure and logistics.

Source: PR Departement of MEF