German Press: the EU may face a competitor

For the first time ever Brussels has a rival – Putin's idea to form the Eurasian Union

For the first time ever Brussels has a rival – Putin's idea to form the Eurasian Union

The West maintains a great deal of scepticism about Vladimir Putin’s idea to form ??the Eurasian Union. Previously Russia was often in a hurry to announce this kind of projects but later they didn’t get off the ground. However this time the new idea has potential – this union obviously follows the example of the EU since it will have committees, binding decisions and its own court. With the help of the Eurasian Union the region is expected to turn into a strong economic player.

Ukraine ’s entry into the Eurasian Customs Union could be crucial. It would give the project political and economic weight. Despite the fact that President Yanukovych constantly emphasizes that Ukraine’s future is closely connected with the European Union, at the moment the relations between Kiev and Brussels are strained. Unlike the EU, Russia uses all tools at its disposal to encourage Ukraine to join the Customs Union. For the first time ever the European Union will have to compare itself with another regional organization whose representatives claim that their union is better. All this casts doubt on the EU’s strategy in this region: although the EU membership programme imposes numerous requirements on its members, it doesn’t offer any prospects of EU membership.

Is the Eurasian Union a modern version of the Soviet Union? Plenty of evidence suggests that this alliance will transform Russia back into the center of the region, but this time the association will be based on a modern system like the European Union, not the old Soviet-style scheme. One can say that it is the most ambitious project since the Soviet Union’s demise. For the time being the Eurasian Union remains a prototype, yet a very promising one in comparison with other plans for ??regional integration.

“ Die Welt ” , Germany