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Sergei Mironov about the prospects for creation of the Eurasion Union as an integration association 18 ôåâðàëÿ 2014 On February 13, Sergei Mironov, Chairman of A JUST PARTY, the leader of the party’s Duma faction took part in the Moscow Economic Forum, in a meeting of the section of the Eurasian Cooperation held at the RF Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We’d like to offer you a shorthand report of his speech: "Dear colleagues and dear Konstantin Anatolievich (Mr. Babkin, the event moderator), the topic of our discussion is really significant and of an utmost importance at present. The creative potential of the Eurasian Economic Forum can hardly be overestimated. We realize that speaking about integration and its processes, the fact that we started with the Customs Union is of a great importance as its formation may be treated as some sign of a positive future for the Eurasian Economic Union anticipated by all of us, including our partners. Moreover, it is a logical continuation of the global policy of polycentrism Russia has consistently been following, and I am sure that these integration processes not only objectively contribute to a better mutual competition and global economy but serve for the political purposes as well. At this point, I’d like to draw your attention to the discussion of possibility or necessity of foundation of the multinational institutions which may frighten someone or make feel uneasy. In my opinion, it is inevitable. Being a professional parliamentarian, I find it absolutely logical that we may and have to speak about a parliamentary constituent of the Euroasian Community by analogy with the interparliamentary assembly of CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). Of course, at the initial stage, the Customs Union is the core of this community In his welcome speech Konstantin Anatolievich said that the subject of the today’s session may be determined by the pain and alert we feel that are connected with the situation in Ukraine. Of course, we have been expecting Ukraine with its economy largest (after Russia) in the former Soviet Union to join the integration process. But to our deep regret, they are facing some other problems to solve and other issues to discuss. We wish they would overcome all their problems. Nevertheless, it is time we ‘threw a bridge’ to the future to see what is awaiting us. But in spite of the current situation in Ukraine, we shall not abandon our ambitious plans on creation of the Eurasian Union as a full-scale integrated association. In particular, I’d like to emphasize that of course, the concerns about Russia making an attempt to bring someone under its control and to dominate somewhere are unreasonable. We will be able both to hold out and make some definite progress and achieve success only through creation of a powerful competitive common ground (in the global economic sense). It’s been only two yeas of the Customs Union functioning but the volume of the mutual trade has almost doubled. There is also an interesting forecast that in perspective the market consolidation will result in a 15 percent GDP growth. As people say in such cases: "May God give!" Formation of the multinational bodies (that I’ve already mentioned) means neither renunciation nor infringement of national sovereignty. It is stressed by the experience the European Union should take into consideration. It is also necessary to realize that these multinational integration architectures within the framework of the national bodies require from its participants a higher degree of responsibility, coordination and (of course) transparency of the actions. At the same time, what we need today is improvement of the interstate management. Expansion of the Eurasian Union shall not be thoughtless, just in pursuit of the increase in number. No matter how quick we want this process to be, we must draw a lesson from the problems and difficulties the Euro-Union collided with. We all know the result of the ‘public mission’ of including the countries of Eastern Europe in the Euro-Union. We can see the problems they are colliding with now. At the same time, it is necessary to give a strong and clear signal to the other countries (our partners who are observing the project of the Euroasain Economic Union) that they are welcome to the Union now and will always be. As for me, I share the views of my colleagues that we need a multilevel model of integration distinguished by an equal speed and based on the clear criteria, rules and regulations. I do hope that in the end, we will follow this path. As I have already said, when we think about the multinational bodies, first of all, it would be natural and logical to think about some sort of unification of our parliamentary structures. Thank you for your attention."
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