EEU Member States Research Articles

Specifics of the impact of the Bank of Russia's monetary policy on the economies of the Eurasian Economic Union

The article is a part of the author's (Zagoytiy V.L.) dissertation research. The purpose of this paper is to identify the key effects of the Bank of Russia's monetary policy on the economies of the Eurasian Economic Union. The authors' initial assumption is that the monetary policy shock of the Russian economy has the same effect on the economies of the other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union. The conclusions about the response of macroeconomic variables to economic policy shocks are based on impulse response function analysis. The authors conduct their modelling in two stages. In the first stage, we identify monetary policy shock for the Russian economy by constructing a vector autoregression model using standard Kholetsky decomposition. At the second stage, we analyze the impact of a Russian monetary policy shock on the economies of the EEU member states. The impact of this shock on the main macroeconomic indicators of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union has been estimated using O. Jorda's local projections’ method. The analysis reveals the significant impact of the monetary policy of the Bank of Russia on the economies of Armenia and Belarus in the short term. The initial assumption that monetary policy shock of Russian economy has the same impact on the economies of other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union is disproved. The authors conclude that the monetary policy shock of the Bank of Russia is transmitted to the economies of the Eurasian Economic Union partner countries primarily through money markets, leading to an increase in market interest rates in Armenia and Belarus and, consequently, to a decline in industrial production. This reflects the operation of the currency channel of cross-border transmission of monetary policy, whereby a rate hike in a large regional economy triggers a rate hike in the region in order to prevent depreciation of national currencies

Legal Framework for Regulating Customs Activity

Introduction . At the present stage of international economic relations, the issue of efficient legal regulation of customs activity is particularly acute. Over the past few years, Russia has faced the challenge of economic sanctions on behalf of a number of unfriendly countries. Transparency of the regulatory framework and thorough elaboration of the fundamental provisions of the customs law will allow building a clear and efficient interaction between the customs authorities of the Russian Federation and the participants of the international economic activity (hereinafter - IEA), the Russian companies and the customs authorities of the Eurasian Economic Union (hereinafter - EEU) member states. The aim of this study is to analyse the legal framework for regulating customs activity and to find out the challenging aspects. The working hypothesis relies on the system of theoretical and methodological provisions and scientific knowledge, indicating the need in further elaboration of the customs legal documentation to ensure the modern approaches regulating the relations between the customs clearance and control processes participants. Materials and Methods . In the course of the research, general scientific and specific scientific methods were used, in particular, the method of dialectical materialism, the system analysis, logical, statistical methods and the method of comparative jurisprudence. Results . The carried out analysis of the regulatory legal framework in the field of customs activity entitles to state the insufficient elaboration of the certain issues, both the ones falling within competence of the Federal Customs Service and the ones generally referring to cooperation with the EEU member states in the field of customs activity. Discussion and Conclusions . In the course of the study, the following problematic aspects were identified. Since insufficient attention is paid in scientific circles to studying the forms of interaction between the tax and the customs authorities of the Russian Federation, the attention is focused on their distinctive features and the recommendation is given to continue collaboration of the Federal Customs Service of Russia (hereinafter – FCS of Russia) and the Federal Tax Service of Russia (hereinafter – FTS of Russia) on creation of the unified data bank designated to testify performance of the export-import operations by the international economic activity participants. Due to the fact that under current conditions, the special attention is paid by the customs authorities to the post-control issues in the frame of the in-office audits, the need to bring the customs and tax legislation into compliance taking into account the results of the in-office audits has been identified. It is necessary to accomplish the regulatory framework enabling implementation of the customs procedure "temporary import (admission)" for individuals with dual citizenship, and to refine the legal basis for the international economic activity participants to provide the documents additionally requested during the customs control. The issue of efficient interaction between the customs authorities and the standardisation and certification authorities during the preliminary customs declaring procedure should be elaborated. It is expedient to continue formation of the EEU digital space and digital infrastructures along with implementation of the advanced information technologies.

TO THE ISSUE OF THE METHODOLOGY FOR ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT OF CUSTOMS REGULATION IN THE EEU, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT LEGAL MEANS OF THE WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION

The research article was prepared as part of a scientific study conducted by the author on improving the theoretical and legal foundations of customs regulation in the Eurasian Economic Union in the framework of interaction with the World Customs Organization. A task. To analyze existing approaches and legal instruments of the international customs community, including the World Customs Organization (WCO), the European Union (EU) and the Eurasian Economic Union (Union) on the analysis the effectiveness of customs activities to improve customs regulation. Conclusions. The research article is devoted to the issues of modernization of the Union's law in the field of customs regulation based on an analysis of the level of development of the customs of the EAEU member states. The subject of the study is the WCO working group on performance management materials, the EU Customs blueprint, as well as the methodological approaches of the Eurasian Economic Commission on the analysis of the level of customs development. The formed methodological approaches, as well as proposals, can be used to develop by the Eurasian Economic Commission (Commission) a methodology for analyzing the level of development of customs regulation in the Member States of the Union, as well as creating in the future the EEU Code of Customs Standards, as a legal instrument and measure in the formation of strategic planning documents that set the main vectors for further integration interaction in the Union. Social Consequences. The study is associated with the implementation of the provisions of the Strategic Directions for the Development of Eurasian Economic Integration until 2025 in Direction 3 «Improvement of customs regulation within the Union». Practical value. The results of the study are of interest to the customs cooperation bloc of the Commission, they can be used by specialists from the customs services of the EEU Member States, experts of the Commission to organize strategic planning and form the legal foundations for the modernization of the Union's law. Conclusions and proposals, as well as the developed survey forms, can be recommended for consideration at the WCO working group on performance management as a regional (Eurasian) experience. The article is recommended to researchers, teachers, students, graduate students and other categories of students in the Russian Customs Academy, in other universities and the WCO regional training centers in the specialties «Customs» and «Jurisprudence». Originality/value. The research material is based on an analysis of the practical aspects of the activities of the Commission, the customs authorities of the Member States of the Union and is the result of a comprehensive study of the issue on improvement the law of the Union based on best practices of customs regulation and the legal instruments and tools of the World Customs Organization.

Conflict Management inside EAEU to Preserve Its Forum

Eurasian Economic Union members: The Eurasian Economic Union consists of five member states: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia.
 What is the Eurasian Economic Union?
 The Eurasian Economic Union (EEU or EAEU is a project for the economic integration of the former Soviet region. Its formal objectives are to create a common market much like the European Union (EU). There are four targets of this forum, i.e:1) coordinating economic policy, 2.) eliminating non-tariff trade barriers,3) harmonizing regulations, and 4).modernizing the economies of its five member states. While the whole population of EEU member states is estimated 180 million people.
 The EEU has some institutions inside it, i.e: the Eurasian Economic Commission in Moscow as its regulatory body, and a Court of the Eurasian Economic Union based in Minsk. The Commission's power is limited. Member states disagreeing with its judgments can appeal to other bodies, and the Commission has no power to bring a member state before the Court in a case of non-compliance. Disputes are often resolved bilaterally rather than via EAEU institutions.
 Bureaucratic forms of the EU have not been fully copied by the EAEU, which seems a slow phase of its development so far. This is might be caused by EAEU GDP in 2019 being the majority Russian economy (87%). Russia is by far the largest member state and dominates the Union. This domination means that Russia is easily able to act unilaterally within the union [1].

The Interaction of the EEU Member States and Risks of Their Mutual Trade during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for the Management of Corporate Social Responsibility

The research problem is that the COVID-19 pandemic has become a threat to the sustainable development of the EEU and caused uncertainty in terms of the management of corporate social responsibility. This paper is aimed at identifying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sustainable development of the EEU from the perspective of the interaction of the member states of the integration association and their mutual trade risks through the prism of the management of corporate social responsibility. The methodological foundation of the research is composed of the provisions of a comprehensive approach that has been used as a basis for determining the cause-and-effect relationship between the member states of the integration association and their mutual trade risks in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The analysis of statistical data is based on the methodology of econometric theory; in particular, the methods of horizontal and trend analysis. This paper analyzes the measures that were taken by the EEU member states to fight the pandemic of a new coronavirus infection both at the national level and at the level of the EEU institutions. The authors showed the asynchronous nature of measures introduced at the national level, while in certain circumstances the economic inefficiency of the introduction of measures, taken at the supranational level, and the impact of imposed restrictions on the current situation with mutual trade in goods and services, and free movement of workers. It has been substantiated that the examination of the economic interaction of the EEU member states in the period of restrictions dictated by a new coronavirus infection has revealed several endemic problems and had a major impact on the achievement of the main objectives of the integration association, transforming the terms for the management of corporate social responsibility. The originality of the paper is that the unique experience of the integration association of the EEU is for the first time studied from the perspective of the impact of the risks of mutual trade during a pandemic on it through the prism of the management of corporate social responsibility.

Improving the Customs Regulation Framework in the Eurasian Economic Union in the Context of Sustainable Economic Development

The formation of a customs administration framework based on the digital economy in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) requires the application of fundamentally new technologies. The successful implementation of digital technologies in the information space of the EAEU presupposes the solution of a number of problems associated with the ensuring the implementation of the concept of sustainable development of the EEU member states in the new economic reality and transition to a new paradigm of customs administration based on the digitalization of the processes of regulation of foreign economic activity. Based on this paradigm, we set the following tasks: to identify trends and substantiate the need for digitalization of the customs administration mechanism in the Eurasian Economic Union based on the use of new technologies; to reveal the meaningful features of digital technologies that are promising for the development of the mechanism of customs administration of the EAEU; consider the applied aspects of the latest information technologies used in the course of EAEU customs administration system digitalization; and assess the prospects for their use, analyze the prospects of organizational, legal and managerial support of this process in the EAEU at the supranational and national levels. The article concludes that within the framework of the digital transformation of the EAEU, new opportunities are opening up for the customs regulation framework, based on the introduction of technologies for analyzing large amounts of data, immersive technologies, blockchain, the use of innovative methods for obtaining and processing customs information (satellite tracking, radio frequency identification), and the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies in customs control processes.

The Contradictions of Currency Integration in the EEU

The growth of monetary and financial cooperation will be required to encourage the expansion of trade relations and continued liberalization between EEU member states. The strengthening of national currencies and exchange rates of member states, the development of currency systems, and the coordination of monetary policy will contribute to the deepening of integration processes between member states. Economic integration and the liberalization unfolding within its framework contribute to the internationalization of the currency of a relatively strong country in economic and political terms, as a result of deepening cooperation between countries, as well as increasing transactions of a commercial and financial nature. The paper highlights that such factors, as high currency risks, national currency instability, limited convertibility, different exchange rate dynamics and regimes among member nations and a lack of financial market development make it difficult to increase the share of national currencies in mutual settlements in addition to the low proportion of national currency transactions. Meanwhile, further economic integration is facilitated by the depth and liquidity of financial market development, financial stability measures that prevent exchange rate fluctuations, and international expansion strategies of national financial institutions. The research objective is to evaluate the inconsistencies currently present in the EEU countries' monetary and financial cooperation and to suggest ways to move forward with successful collaboration. The research shows that the depth of financial market development, handling currency rate fluctuations and the global expansion goals of national financial institutions contribute to tighter economic integration.

ՀՀ տնտեսության ագրարային հատվածի տեղաբաշխումը եվ մասնագիտացումը դրա տարածքային համաչափ զարգացման համատեքստում/Placement and Specialization of the Agrarian Sector of the RA Economy in the Context of its Balanced Territorial Development

The paper clarifies not only the great diversity of natural and economic conditions created in small areas in conditions of severe relief and severe surface fragmentation, but also the spatial development of multi-sectoral economy, many macroeconomic factors: In this context, the further development of rural areas is possible only after a radical change in the budget policy of the state in terms of their financial support, after the development of public-private partnership through more active state regulation of these issues. So far, destructive demographic processes are prevalent in the village. It is impossible to disagree with them, as evidenced by statistics on the decline of the rural population and the increase of abandoned rural areas. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the most important documents of strategic importance for the balanced territorial development of the republic, which have been adopted recently, have not received the required level of clarification. If the possible development of the third sector of the agri-food system is not taken into account in time for the development of the concept, strategy and scheme of the territorial organization of the agrarian sector, considering the coordination of joint actions for the justified placement and specialization of agri-food production of the EEU member states, it will negatively influence the balanced development of rural areas.

Food security of the Eurasian economic union in the context of the global food system

In the article contains approaches to the stable provision of food security of the EEU member states, taking into account modern global trends in the development of agriculture, as well as the global agenda for sustainable development. It is proposed to form an integrated ecosystem by introducing tools such as the transition to the use of big data in the agricultural sector, the creation and implementation of scientific and technological solutions, the accumulation of human capital, e-commerce and a “green” economy.

Public-private partnership as the basis for creating a crossborder cluster (Russia-Kazakhstan) for deep grain processing: the essence and specifics of the formation

The subject-object area of the research is organizational relations based on public-private partnership (hereinafter - PPP) between its participants to create a cross-border cluster (Russia-Kazakhstan) for deep processing of grain. There were considered the present forms, models and mechanisms of PPP and the possibility of their implementation in the formation of a cluster. The characteristic features and distinctive features of relations between PPP participants that can be used in the preparation of normative acts regulating the system of relations between partners both in the Russian Federation and in the EEU member States are identified. The author substantiates the need to solve a number of fundamental issues on the formation of an international cluster based on PPP: effective PPP cannot be considered only as attracting investment, it is necessary to take into account the interests of all participants, especially business, for which stable "rules of the game" must be defined.

Transformation of Public Finance of the Eurasian Economic Union Member States in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose: The article sets the following objectives: considering the economic nature of the current crisis, its differences from the economic crises observed in the past few decades, the measures taken by the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union to fight coronavirus infection and the directions for improving financial, budgetary, tax , customs regulation in crisis conditions. Design/Methodology/Approach: Right after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, most countries of the world have implemented a similar set of measures to minimize its negative consequences. The article examines the financial and credit instruments used in world practice to stabilize the socio-economic situation and eliminate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the possibilities and limitations of their use by the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states. Findings: Overcoming the consequences of the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic and ensuring the economic growth of the EAEU member states is possible through the deepening of integration processes within the EAEU and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the creation of the necessary conditions for the digitalization of foreign and mutual trade of the EAEU member states, changes in the current monetary policy its close coordination within the framework of resolving the issue of developing the internal financial market of the EAEU. Practical Implications: The practical implementation of the proposed approaches will minimize the negative consequences of the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic for the EEU member states. Originality/Value: The rapidly changing macroeconomic and financial situation has a negative impact on the state of public finances around the world, which requires taking newly emerging fiscal risks into account and developing economic and financial measures to eliminate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Coronavirus infection has led to a disruption in the activity of certain sectors of the economy, a decrease in the final demand for manufactured products and / or services, a disruption of inter-industry relationships and production chains.

Конкурентоспособность энергопотребляющих устройств: новые требования в техническом регулировании в целях устойчивого развития

The Eurasian economic Union has adopted the technical regulation «On energy efficiency requirements for energy-consuming devices» (TR EEU 048/2019), which is applied to widely used energy-consuming devices that have a significant share in the energy consumption balance and produce a significant impact on the energy security of the EEU member States. In TR EEU 048/2019 updated quantitative requirements to energy consuming devices, with new, additional requirements for energy efficiency, corresponding to modern level of the development of energy-saving technologies, and harmonization gradually introduced requirements on energy efficiency of energy consuming devices installed in a TR EEU 048/2019, with the requirements of the directives and regulations of the European Union, suggests that energy efficiency in energy-consuming products manufactured in the member States of the Eurasian economic Union, will steadily increase and it should have a positive impact on the competitiveness of energy-consuming goods produced in the territory of the Eurasian economic Union. The introduction of the EAEU TR 048/2019 is an urgent solution for ensuring energy security of the economies and the energies of the member States of the Eurasian economic Union and will promote the promotion of competitive energy-consuming products produced on the territory of the countries of the Eurasian economic Union to the international market and will allow the population to save money on acquisitions of energy efficient energy consuming devices.

EAEU Countries: Assessment of Economic Security

The presented study addresses the problems of economic security in the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU, Union). The subject of the study covers the following EEU member states: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia. A system of indicators and threshold parameters for assessing the level of economic security of the EAEU member states are proposed. Aim . The study aims to examine and substantiate optimal approaches and methods for solving economic security problems in the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union. Tasks . The authors analyze data of the economic security system of the EAEU countries; develop a set of indicators and threshold parameters for assessing the level of economic security in the EAEU countries; formulate recommendations for improving the efficiency of economic security in the EAEU countries. Methods . The theoretical and methodological basis of this study includes works of Russian and foreign scientists and normative documents regulating economic security issues in the EAEU member states. The study uses the systems approach, comparative method, and general scientific methods — analysis and synthesis, juxtaposition and comparison, systematization and generalization of the obtained data. Results. The authors have obtained the following results in terms of approaches and methods for assessing the efficiency of economic security in the EAEU countries and prospects for its improvement. To develop a unified concept (strategy) of safe socio-economic development for the EAEU countries, it is necessary to systematically monitor economic security indicators that reflect the specific features of each country of the Union. For an in-depth study of issues related to ensuring economic security in the EAEU countries, it is advisable to introduce a more detailed list of indicators of safe economic development. The system of indicators for assessing the economic security of the EAEU countries proposed by the authors of this study does not claim to provide an exhaustive characterization of the problems raised, but it is one of the possible approaches to solving them. To improve the quality of monitoring in this field and the objectivity of assessment of processes that could destabilize the economy of the EAEU countries, it is advisable to develop a common methodology for determining the threshold values of the indicators proposed for economic security assessment. In the absence of such a methodology, it is difficult to develop and implement methodological approaches to assessing economic security at all levels of management. Conclusions . The theoretical and practical significance of this study consists in the development of new approaches and methods in the examination of the assessment, indicators, and ways of improving the efficiency of economic security in the EAEU countries. The results and major conclusions are presented in the scientific publications by H.S. Pak, E.V. Ushakova, V.A. Plotnikov, et al. Currently, there is no established set of criteria for assessing the level of economic security. Comparative analysis of the existing methods of economic security assessment has revealed a number of proprietary methodologies (a group of indicators based on two crisis levels by L.A. Abalkin, a set of indicators by S.Y. Glazyev, indicators of economic security by E.A. Oleynikov). However, these methodologies do not fully reflect the development dynamics of the process of improving economic security efficiency with the indicators proposed by the authors. Threshold parameters are established by an expert method, which increases the degree of subjectivity in the assessment. A unified system of indicators needs to be developed to assess the efficiency of economic security management within a specific territory. The system proposed by the authors, which uses the principle of coordinated integration cooperation between the EAEU countries, would make it possible to determine and assess the risk of a potential threat and select the optimal set of preventive measures for a joint response to various threats to the national security of the Union's member states. On this premise, each country of the EAEU should be able to overcome the crisis and set the national economy on the path of sustainable economic growth in accordance with the national economic development strategy.

EXTERNAL CONDITIONS AND FACTORS FOR LIVESTOCK SECTOR OPERATIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

The assessment of conditions and factors of external economic environment of functioning of the main livestock breeding sectors in the new conditions of management was made. From the point of view of import intensity and competitiveness of animal production the condition of the branch on separate kinds of its production resources, such as forages, veterinary preparations and breeding cattle is analyzed. The level of production of animal products in the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union has been determined and the competitive advantages of the animal husbandry sectors of Belarus under the conditions of the EEU functioning have been assessed by the price of commodity producers, the level of productivity of agricultural animals, profitability of production. Significant external factors determining the modern vector of livestock breeding development in the context of implementing a set of measures to ensure food security, import substitution and export development in conditions of growing competition in the market of EEU member states have been identified.

CONCEPTUAL APPROACHES TO THE MAIN AREAS OF INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION

The article reveals the theoretical aspects of the interrelationship of integration processes and industrial development of the countries participating. The role of industry modernization in providing positive integration effects is shown. Based on the analysis of the dynamics of industrial production volumes of the EEU Member States for 2015–2019 a conclusion was drawn about the lagging growth rates in Belarus. The problematic issues of the functioning of Belarusian industrial organizations within the EAEU are reflected. Recommendations on the content of the Main Directions of Industrial Cooperation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union for the period up to 2025, which ensure the protection of producers of member states in the general market of integration associations and increase their competitiveness in the markets of third countries, are suggested.

Social and Humanitarian Cooperation: Experience and Prospects

The article considers the main directions of social and humanitarian cooperation of the EEU member States, covering the fields of education, science, health, tourism and sports in order to improve the welfare and life quality of the Union countries' citizens. The goal is to create a single socio-humanitarian space that should not blindly reproduce the Western socio-humanitarian model of development based on the strategy of ”nurturing“ a loyal ”civil society“. Otherwise, there will be a discrepancy between the implementation of the goal of forming a single economic space and social and humanitarian programs imposed from the outside in the context of liberal democratic ideology, which are destructive for the peoples ofEurasia.

To the issue of the activity of the thematic block “Electronic Customs” in the Eurasian Economic Union

Purpose. To analyze the development of the legal institute of digital (electronic) customs within the framework of the Thematic Block “electronic customs”, as well as an Expert Group on the preparation of a draft document «On the development of approaches to the formation of digital customs” in the Eurasian Economic Union. Design/methodology/approach. The research article is devoted to the formation of the institute of electronic (digital) customs. The subject of the research is the institute of digital (electronic) customs. The activities of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) for the development of digital (electronic) customs are comprehensively considered. The issue of creating digital customs in the context of the functioning of the Thematic Block “electronic customs” (thematic block) is analyzed. Special attention is paid to the same questions within the framework of the work of the Expert Group on the preparation of the draft document «On the development of approaches to the formation of digital customs” (expert group). The authors analyze the competence and procedural aspects of the Thematic Block. Social implications. The introduction of the digital customs institute into the law of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU, Union) and customs regulation as a whole are aimed at optimizing customs operations and simplifying trade procedures. Practical meaning. The results of the study are of interest to the EEC customs block; they can be used in the framework of organizing the work of the “Electronic Customs” Thematic Block and Expert Group. The article is recommended to researchers, as well as experts from the Customs Administrations of the EEU Member States and the World Custom Organization (WCO), whose activities are related to the improvement of customs regulation, the modernization of the digital customs institute, as well as international customs law. Originality/value. The research material is based on an analysis of the practical aspects of the EEC’s and the WCO activities and is a continuation of scientific and practical publications on the development of the digital customs institute.

LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACTS OF THE EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION COURT AND PROBLEMS OF THEIR ENFORCEMENT

In this article the problems of legal consequences of the Eurasian economic union’s (EEU) judicial actsare analyzed and the specifics of the implementation of these acts by member States and economic entities are reviewed. The legal consequences of non-compliance with these acts have a serious impact on both the legal order of the EEU and the legal systems of the Union’s member states. In conducting this research, the authors used general scientific, general legal and special legal research methods. Based on comparative legal analysis, the authors consider the statutory features of each individual act, especially its decisions that have binding legal force. The activity of the EEU Court was compared with the features of other international courts, which allowed to identify positive and negative sides. In this work, the mechanisms of interaction between the EEU Court and the national courts of the Union member states were studied, and such interaction was considered in relation not only to the highest courts of the member states, but also to national courts of all levels. In order to improve the efficiency of the EEU Courtfunctioning, it is proposed to give the EEU Court the power to provide pre-trial opinions, as well as to grant the right of the EEC to initiate a lawsuit against the EEU member states that violate their obligations under the law of the Union. Key words: The court of the EEU, Statute, regulations, Board, resolutions, decisions, Advisory opinions, enforcement of court decisions.

Tendencies and potential of formation of common gas market in EEU

The article discusses the relationship of the EEU member states in the gas sector. Based on the analysis of existing problems and contradictions, as well as the agreements reached in the EEU, an assessment is given of the prospects for the formation of a common gas market within the framework of a single economic space. The formation of a common gas market is seen as the key to ensuring its energy security and harmonious socioeconomic development of both suppliers and consumers of gas in EEU. The lack of a price model of the gas market, heterogeneity and incompatibility of the potential of national gas markets, the complexity of the unification of the rules of the market, export problems and other equally important issues determine the relevance of the study of the functioning and development of gas markets of the EEU member states. The aim of the work is to analyze and identify the main problems affecting the development of the gas industry in EEU. The results obtained in the course of the study suggest that the functioning of the common gas market of the EEU is possible in the conditions of achieving institutional homogeneity of national gas markets.

Russia and the European Union: sociological notes on the role of culture and prospects for dialogue

The dialogue between Russia and the European Union is a relationship between two major geopolitical actors, which has never been unambiguous and simple in history, although it is due to the proximity of the geographical location and mutual interest in long-term cooperation. The EU’s cultural policy is quite pragmatic, in comparison with the significance of the factors of the economic space and the presence of the Euro zone, culture is not considered by Europeans as a binding factor in the development of the two countries. In order to enter the common European economic market, States are forced to apply for participation in cultural programs and grants funded by the EU. The article emphasizes the idea that any attempts to block the development of national cultures will inevitably lead to conflicts. Only through culture is it possible to achieve true self-expression of each nation and dialogue among civilizations. The concept of «strategic culture» is considered as a tool of analysis and a way of knowledge, and identity and national character as a predisposition to a certain type of policy. As part of the study of strategic culture, the analysis of national ideology is of great practical interest. At the governmental level, Russia and the European Union follow the course of a long-term strategic partnership, primarily in the fields of culture, education, science, and the humanitarian sphere. Large-scale challenges and the ongoing systemic transformation of the European Union add politicization and uncertainty to Russian-European relations. At the same time, cultural, scientific and humanitarian ties are seen as promising, and the Russian-European dialogue in the field of culture will promote and stimulate the expansion of Russia’s cooperation with both EU member States and the EEU member States. The article examines the cultural policy and cultural diplomacy of the European Union. It is proved that full-fledged cooperation between Russia and the European Union is possible only within the framework of a common humanitarian space – a value-ideological communication environment determined by equal and mutual respect of the participants and the nature of the relationship between the ideologies of independent international actors, excluding unilateral ideological expansion of any of the parties.