EaEU: partner or opponent of the EU?

EaEU: partner or opponent of the EU?


By Vestnik Kavazaka

Vladimir Girin, the Ambassador of Russia to Germany, told RIA Novosti that it is necessary to turn to real steps in consultations between the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union. Chancellor Angela Merkel, the vice Chancellor, the Minister of Economy and Energy Sigmar Gabriel, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier – all of them show interest in the idea of Vladimir Putin to establish a united economic and humanitarian space from Vladivostok to Lisbon and toward consultations between the EU and the EaEU in this context. Merkel stated that a free trade zone between the EU and the EaEU could be established in late 2014. According to her, this could solve the technical problems between Russia and Ukraine, which signed the agreement on free trade with the EU, but implementation of the agreement was delayed till the end of 2015.

Speaking about the development of the EaEU, Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of the Federation Council, expressed the view that “to accumulate integration potential, joint programs are needed, as well as integration projects. It is necessary to fill the united market with common development strategies. The same thing concerns such measures as deepening of financial integration, the shift to using only national currencies, the formation of a united banking infrastructure and telecommunication system, the establishment of its own system of bank payment cards.

A lot should be done for the citizens of the Union. The EaEU agreement requires that all of them have a right to equal conditions of employment, social and healthcare support, taxation. Members of the EaEU will have to work hard in the legislative sphere. It is big responsibility for MPs of the Eurasian Economic Union.”

According to Matviyenko, “the situation in the world is not favorable, and it is clear. Last year contradictions between the objective necessity of joint actions for resistance to threats and the devotion of certain countries to the policy of dominating dictate became deeper. A peak of the process was the events in Ukraine. Unfortunately, a crisis of power in the brotherly country has been taking place for two years. Events are developing according to the insane logic of a civil war. The appearance of an economically strong powerful ally on the vast territory from the Baltic Region to the Pacific Ocean causes concerns of Western forces. We are acting against the background of an information war against us.”

The Speaker of the Federation Council is sure that “the information policy of the West against Russia has deep roots and it will be long-lasting. Obviously, only improvement of integration, joint activities on providing security, strengthening of economic independence, quick structural reformation of our economy, and firm protection of national interests could be an answer to this.”

She thinks that cooperation in the humanitarian sphere is topical: “The information and propaganda war against us is gaining a more casuistic, cruel and immoral character with the upcoming celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Victory. On January 28th the Federation Council adopted a resolution on the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the International Day for the Remembrance of Holocaust Victims. We should pay close attention to the preservation of historic truth. It is our responsibility and duty. Nobody has the right to aggress remembrance of the sacred brotherhood-in-arms of the USSR nations, millions of Soviet people who died to save the world from fascism.”

 

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