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Wednesday, 05.10.2011
Putin adds Eurasian Union into the election manifesto
Moscow. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin presented his vision for a new Russia to the Russian people: It is to become a part of a Eurasia Union which will increase prosperity and liberty for its people. Using the EU as an example and not the USSR.
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In an article for the newspaper 'Izvestiya' Vladimir Putin explained in plans. Over the next years the integration efforts in the post soviet areas are to be increased. The integration will be transformed into a long term, comprehensible and attractive project for all citizens and business and does not depend on the current political fluctuations or any other economic changes, wrote Putin.
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Integration has been running for years
According to Putin, the concept has been running for years. First (in the year 2000) was the founding of the Eurasian Economic Union, then the agreement on Collective Security was added and this year the Customs Union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan came into force.
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The next point on the agenda is the Common Economic Space (CES). "We create a powerful market, with more than 165 billion consumers, with unified legislation, free movement of capital, services and labour," said Putin.
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Schengen-2 in the Eurasian area?
The EEA will also bring benefits to foreigners. Putin promises to change the migration policy. The EEA is to become a second Schengen region. This would allow employees as well as tourists to move freely within the EEA.
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But this was not enough for the next President:"We set ourselves the ambitious task to reach the next higher level of integration, the Eurasian Union.
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No new era of the Soviet Union
This is not going to be a revival of the Soviet Union, stressed Putin. "It would be naive to try to attempt to copy something that belongs to the past", said Putin.
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According to Putin, the Eurasian Union will grow into a powerful global player and be a link between Europe and the rapidly developing Asia-Pacific region. To achieve this there would be an initial need for a full economic union with a single currency and common economic policies.
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Therefore, governing bodies need to be created that have similar powers as the EU Commission. As for participating countries, Putin is evidently hoping for most of the former Soviet Union to join. Moscow is currently in intensive negotiations with Kiev on joining the Customs Union.
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A demarcation from the EU is not planned
There are no plans to create a demarcation line with the EU, stressed Putin.The creation of a visa-free traffic from Lisbon to Vladivostok has been negotiated for some time. Future members of the Eurasian Union would benefit, he said.
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However, both Unions should remain separate "building blocks" of a future global order and should not merge.
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A precise time table for the creation of the Eurasian Union has not been set, but Putin wants to establish it faster than the EU, who has been working on the integration for the last 50 years, since the Roman contracts had been signed.
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Perhaps it will happen in time for Putin to secure himself the position of Commission President in the Eurasian Union, after his presidency.
Original German text can be found here >>>
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