Panelists focused on the recent proposals of the economic integration in the Post-Soviet space. They presented opportunities and challenges connected with the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which the EU offers to some countries of the Eastern Partnership. Particular attention was paid to the negotiations of Moldova and Georgia launched with the EU in December 2011, as well as to Ukraine having problems with signing final agreement. The experts also analyzed Russian initiatives for strengthening economic ties with post-Soviet countries. They presented the current state of cooperation between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan within the framework of the Customs Union, as well as the perspectives of other projects like Common Economic Area and the Eurasian Union.

During the discussion panelists agreed that even though the projects of economic integration in the post-Soviet space of Russia and the EU seem to be contradictory in many points, there are also some positive aspects. Customs Union and other Russia’s proposals are based on the WTO principles, which makes Belarus, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian states closer to the EU.

By Jarosław Ćwiek-Karpowicz

Photos by Jadwiga Winiarska