On June 4, an online discussion was held on the initiative of the GERO in CA with the assistance of DKU and SCHNEIDER GROUP
«CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES AND THE EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION:
QUO STATUS AND PERSPECTIVE»
Representatives of 4 countries met in neutral territory, online space: scientists, businessmen, diplomats to discuss global issues: identify important milestones of Eurasian development economic union, draw certain conclusions, address the main problems, identify clear prospects for development. The event was held on the initiative of the Representative Office of the German Economy in Central Asia, with the assistance of the Kazakh-German University and the company SCHNEIDER GROUP.
The moderator of the online discussion was Mr. Hovsep Voskanyan, Head of the German Economy in Central Asia, who in his opening speech pointed out the relevance of regional integration processes in Central Asia, due to the fact that today the EAEU already includes 2 countries of the Central Asian region, and dynamically developing Uzbekistan expresses its desire to act as an observer in the EAEU.
Ambassador of Germany to Kazakhstan — Dr. Tilo Klinner, who responded to the importance and relevance of the event for the region of Central Asia and Kazakhstan in the light of recent political events (criticism of President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev at the last Supreme Eurasian Council) and expressed his opinion on the EAEU itself and its further fate.
Further, Professor Heinz-Peter Höller, Head of the Kazakh-German University, spoke about DKU's mission in Kazakhstan, pointing out the importance of development of cooperation between the university and the representation of the German economy in Central Asia. Professor Höller expressed his desire to organize a business platform on the basis of DKU for the exchange of experience and knowledge, as well as the development of general activities.
Expert Panel
The first report entitled «30 years of economic integration in the post-Soviet space: status quo in Central Asia”, was delivered by Professor of Halle-Wittenberg Martin Luther University, Doctor of Law — Azer Aliyev. In his report, Prof. Aliyev focused on the legal component of some agreements concluded in the framework of the CIS, and many of which still play a greater role in the decision legal issues such as, for example, recognition of documents than the legal framework of the EAEU itself. On practical examples, prof. Aliyev also pointed to the superficiality of Eurasian integration on many legal and economic issues. The expert singled out the EAEU as one of the most successful entities since the collapse of the USSR in the Eurasian space but having still a weak and «underworked” basis.
Mr. Schneider, President and Founder of SCHNEIDER GROUP continued online discussion, stating in his report «Economic prospects and the role of Central Asia in building a unified economic space from Lisbon to Vladivostok” on the relevance of creating a single economic space between the EU and the EAEU. Mr. Schneider also spoke about the stage of development and plans of the EAEU in foreign trade with third countries. In particular, the interest of the EAEU in cooperation with the EU. Thus, since 2018 on the basis of the Russian-German Chamber of Commerce in Moscow is developing a dialogue with the EAEU on technical regulation, where on behalf of the Ministry of Economy of Germany a working group has been established. Thus, both sides are trying to build a dialogue and this, according to Mr. Schneider, is a serious step for the development and construction of further cooperation between the EAEU and the EU.
The third report was made by Vitaly Kim, Doctor of Law and a representative of the German Economy in Central Asia. In his report «Eurasian Economic Union: Impact on Central Asian Countries”, Dr. Kim focused on the EAEU, the content and structure of the treaty, institutions and architecture of supranational union. After the legal presentation of the EAEU, Dr. Kim spoke about the economic impact of the EAEU on the Central Asia countries, in particular on Kazakhstan. During his speech, Dr. Kim drew a parallel with the European Union, pointing out significant differences in the degree of integration between the two integration associations, as well as touched upon the functioning of 4 fundamental freedoms of the Union, where on practical examples demonstrated the problems of the work of supranational bodies of the EAEU.
After a little pause, moderator Hovsep Voskanyan gave the floor to Professor of Kazakh-German University, Doctor of Philosophical Sciences — Rustam Burnashev. Professor Burnashev in his report: «EAEU and Regional Integration Processes in Central Asia: Prospects for Uzbekistan” spoke about the prospects of Uzbekistan joining the EAEU. According to Professor Burnashev, accession to the EAEU is not a priority for Uzbekistan due to the possible loss of part of state sovereignty, as well as subsequent of oppression of major business players in the domestic market of the country. As a possible benefit from Uzbekistan's accession to the EAEU, prof. Burnashev singled out a single labor market for migrant workers, which could significantly improve the situation of Uzbek migrant workers in Russia.
Professor of the Institute of Economics of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic made the latest report within the framework of the online event entitled «5 years of Kyrgyzstan in the EAEU”, Doctor of Economics — Marim Koichueva. Professor Koichueva demonstrated in her presentation a detailed analysis of economic indicators of Kyrgyzstan in comparison: before joining the EAEU (2014) and after 5 years (2019) year). In her study, Professor Koichueva pointed out that macroeconomic indicators of Kyrgyzstan did not improve by many criteria during 5 years of being in the EAEU countries, and opposite have deteriorated. As the main benefit of unification, Prof. Koichueva pointed to a simplified regime for migrant workers from Kyrgyzstan on the territory of the EAEU, in particular in Russia and Kazakhstan.
Discussion Panel
The online event ended with a discussion by invited experts and answers to participants' questions from Mr. Hovsep Voskanyan, Mr. Ulf Schneider, Professor Azer Aliyev and Dr. Vitaly Kim.
Record of the meeting:
