EAEU 2.0: TRANSITION TO A NEW QUALITY OF INTEGRATION

White Studio

Languages: Russian, English

Moderator:

Sergey Sinelnikov-Murylev, Rector of the Russian Foreign Trade Academy of the Ministry for the Economic Development of the Russian Federation

Panellists:

Ablay Myrzakhmetov, Chairman of Presidium – President, Business Council of the Eurasian Economic Union

Mikhail Myasnikovich, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission

Alexey Overchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation

As of today, the Eurasian Economic Union represents one of the largest integration projects in the region, along with China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Unlocking the EAEU integration potential is a priority for its members, which will maximize the benefits for each member of the Union. Currently, there are a number of internal and external constraints to the EAEU development. Within the Union, exemptions, restrictions and barriers continue to apply that impede the achievement of freedom of movement of goods. The common market for services is still under development. Joint projects within the EAEU are still rare. Finally, there are questions regarding the supranational status of the Eurasian Economic Commission. The EAEU member states’ relationships with the “outside” world are built primarily on a bilateral basis, a striking example is the interaction between EAEU members and China within the Belt and Road Initiative. A similar situation is observed on the platforms of international organizations. One possible response to this challenge could be the development and elaboration of the Greater Eurasian Partnership idea.

Issues for discussion:
• What has Eurasian integration given to the businesses and the economy?
• What priority tasks need to be addressed within the EAEU to accelerate the Union’s growth rate and increase its share in the global economy?
• To what extent can joint Eurasian projects act as a driver for the development of EAEU integration? In what areas do they need to be developed?
• To what extent does the EAEU’s unified trade policy in its current form meet the objectives of Eurasian integration development and the interests of its member states?
• Problems of EAEU coordination with China’s Belt and Road Initiative: how can this task be implemented while maximizing the benefit for the Union’s member states?
• How can the idea of a Greater Eurasian Partnership be elaborated? How does this idea relate to China’s Belt and Road Initiative?