The integration processes in the Eurasian Economic Union should not run contrary to the interests of Belarus, said Georgy Grits, Deputy Director of the Center of System-Based Analysis and Strategic Research at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.
“Regionalization is a global trend and an alternative to globalization today. It is worth noting that this process is running exactly at the level of regions rather than specific countries. Therefore, the integration trend in our regions is sound and viable. However, the EEU integration processes should not run contrary to the interests of Belarus,” the expert stressed.
Georgy Grits also noted that the integration effort should not turn into empty rhetoric. “Words and decisions in the EEU should be followed by real actions,” the expert pointed out. He said that today the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union protect their national interests mostly by using non-tariff measures such as phytosanitary ones, industrial standards, and customer service standards.
Georgy Grits believes that the future of the EEU lies with the establishment of regional production chains. “We have common technology platforms, industrial policy, and we have projects to set up common engineering centers. I think that the current misunderstandings in the Belarusian-Russian relations are temporary. Common sense, logic and our historical traditions will prevail, and as a result we will have an updated cooperation format,” the expert noted.