Eurasian integration

Conflicts between Belarus and Russia have a negative impact on the image of the Eurasian integration. Union’s further deepening and expanding will largely depend on how effectively bilateral conflicts between members of an economic grouping are solved. In this context, the most promising solution for Russia seems not striping policy of "carrot and stick", butcreating the legislative and institutional framework, which limits the possibility of speculative balancing of a small state in the future Eurasian Union.

This article deals with the Eastern Partnership Program. It is an initiative of the European Union governing its relationship with the post-Soviet states – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Particular attention is given to border cooperation, including the Eastern Partnership Territorial Cooperation Support Programme

The article focuses on the main Russian concerns on the way of the Eurasian integration process. The author analyses real and potential obstacles for the Eurasian union during the competition between Russia and other players in the region such as China, the US and the EU. The article gives some forecasts on the development of integration and disintegration tendencies in Eurasia. Some author’s conclusions might be used for the improvement of Russian foreign policy course.

In the context of the global economic crisis, general geopolitical instability – only a deepening economic partnership is able to stabilize and speed up the development of the countries of the Eurasian space. The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) has successfully passed the stage of development as international and regional organization, has gained international legal personality and at this stage the most urgent task is the development of cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union and third countries and integration associations.