Eurasian Economic Union Should Consider Principle Of Similarity

Astana, Kazakhstan, April 24



By Daniyar Mukhtarov - Trend:



The emerging Eurasian Economic Union needs to consider similarities in mentality and shared civilization, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor of International Relations and World Economy Faculty of Kazakh National University Galia Movkebayeva said.



"Moreover, this principle should be deepened more. It is impossible to imagine today's world without the existence of integration and regional associations," she said during the round table organized by the "World of Eurasia" fund on the topic of "Integration: EAU reached the signing stage".



"There are already so-called "EuroAsianoptimists" and " EurAsianskeptics" on the principle of similarity, identity with the European Union. Everybody understands that economic integration is necessary. Remember the EU integration took a long time. Now for us the main thing is economic integration,"Movkebayeva added.



However, today many questions arise with the creation of the EEU according to Movkebayeva. For example, whether a general ideology of the EEU is needed and whether a general idea is needed at all? How a new generation refers to those or other issues of integration?



"Today, we see that this issue is not particularly topical for young people," the expert said.



The other Kazakh political scientist Edward Poletaev, who spoke at the round table meeting, said that the mentality of today's youth is different from that of the Soviet period.



"If we look at the demographic situation, we can see that since 1991, some 25 percent of the Russian population, 27 percent - of Belarus residents and 40 percent - Kazakh people were born. Thus, we have a different population structure, a different proportion of the population who lived in independence, respectively, a different proportion of those who have common values," the political analyst Marat Shibutov said.



In turn, Movkebayeva stressed that it is necessary to take real steps in order to solve this problem.



"We can offer such a form of discussion, like talk shows, joint information channels. Maybe, it is worth creating a common Eurasian news channel. Anyway, it is, of course, necessary to popularize the idea of integration," she said.



Translated by S.I.



Edited by C.N.