Regional Integration Associations Research Articles

Management of Innovative Development of the Regional Industrial Complex: Theoretical Aspect

Relevance. Innovative development is currently an integral part of any organization, city, country and the world as a whole. Innovative development determines the potential and ability to achieve a goal through the use of new technologies The modern world is a dynamic system at the stage of globalization associated with the expansion of international integration and the creation of regional integration associations. The modern economic paradigm, as the main instrument of systems, is exposed to the danger of wasteful consumption of resources caused by market competition. The concept of sustainable development of socio-economic systems is a new paradigm, the main content of which is a global unregulated economy and the need to find comprehensive solutions to achieve the goals of social, economic and environmental development. Thus, managing the innovative development of the regional industrial complex is a pressing issue, the study of which should begin with consideration of theoretical aspects. The purpose of the study is to study the theoretical aspects of managing the innovative development of the regional industrial complex. The objectives of the scientific article are to reflect the research ideas of Russian and foreign authors regarding the basic concepts that reveal the topic of research, such as “innovative development”, “industrial complex”; approaches to the composition of the structure of the industrial complex of the region are considered. Methodology. The research methodology includes the use of methods of comparative analysis of the points of view of scientists of Russian and foreign science, analysis and synthesis. The results of the study are presented by a comparative analysis of theoretical views on the main scientific categories of management of innovative development of the regional industrial complex, such as “innovative development”, “industrial complex”, the structure of the regional industrial complex. Conclusions. A theoretical study of managing the innovative development of the industrial complex of the region was carried out in the context of a discussion between representatives of Russian and foreign science, substantiating the author's concept of managing the innovative development of the industrial complex of the region.

ПЕРЕГОВОРИ ЩОДО УКЛАДЕННЯ УГОДИ ПРО АСОЦІАЦІЮ МІЖ ЄС І МЕРКОСУР (1999–2023

The article analyzes the negotiations on the conclusion of the association agreement between the EU and Mercosur. The stages of negotiations are defined, starting with the prerequisites for the start of this process (signing in 1995 of the Interregional Framework Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Mercosur), the official start of negotiations in 1999, the results of the main bilateral meetings of representatives of both sides, the resumption of the negotiation process in 2010, 2019, and 2023. The influence of the summits of the heads of state of the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean, domestic and foreign political circumstances on this process is determined. In the course of the study, it was concluded that negotiations on the conclusion of an association agreement between the EU and Mercosur have become a key issue in the development of relations between the two regional integration associations and an important part of the EU’s foreign policy strategy in Latin America. The prospects for further development of the negotiation process were also analyzed in view of the recent failures to complete the signing of the agreement in 2023 and the current situation in both blocs at the beginning of 2024. Positive factors that influenced the attainment of certain milestones in the negotiation process were identified, such as the leadership role of the Iberian states – Spain and Portugal, which advocated negotiations due to their special linguistic, cultural, historical, and business ties with Latin America. Important stimuli included the summits of the countries of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the EU. Despite the lengthy negotiation process, the agreement was not signed due to resistance from the agrarian lobby in the countries of the European Union, the absence of a common EU strategy for Latin America, and domestic political issues in the Mercosur countries.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ СТРУКТУРИЗАЦІЇ БЮДЖЕТНОЇ СИСТЕМИ ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКОЇ СПІЛКИ

The formation of economic, customs, currency unions, as well as common budgeting systems by independent states can be considered as a concomitant trend of modern globalization processes. It is globalization, as well as increasing economic interdependence and a greater degree of market openness, that have led to the need for more effective management of regional financial transactions, as well as coordination among decision-making centers. The task of increasing the efficiency in the financial management of these associations can be solved due to the synergistic effect of the integration of the economies of the member states of such unions. The Economic and Monetary Union of European States is a vivid example of the result of integration processes in the field of economics and finance. Its most significant achievement is the implementation of a common monetary policy. However, important theoretical and practical problems arise both in the implementation of the budget policy and in the management of the budget processes of the Union. An unconditional factor in improving the efficiency of budget process management is the use of the resultoriented budgeting mechanism, the establishment of a clear relationship between goals, objectives, implementation tools, and indicators of expenditure effectiveness. This mechanism can be used in the practice of budgeting not only by sovereign states, but also by regional associations. The integration of the result-oriented budgeting mechanism into the budget systems of regional associations is associated with solving the problems of budget planning, coordination of participants in the process of coordinating budget decisions, execution and control. The EU's experience in managing budget processes has developed as a result of constant processes of improvement, adaptation to changing conditions, and the development of the most optimal solutions for the distribution of the Union's resources. Undoubtedly, the experience gained is unique due to the specifics of the EU from the economic, political, and institutional points of view. Nevertheless, the developed mechanisms and principles of management are of interest for a detailed study and assessment of the possibility of applying the established practices to other integration associations. Strengthening regional integration associations is a priority task for Ukraine in the framework of the implementation of the foreign policy concept. One of the main factors contributing to the integration processes is the provision of sustainable coordination mechanisms between members in the adoption and implementation of joint decisions, including within the framework of joint budget management. Consequently, strengthening and increasing the efficiency of the system of managing budget processes can contribute to achieving the task of strengthening the integration of regional associations as a whole. In this regard, the study and analysis of the

Ethical Standards in Innovative Medicine

States are trying to develop the sector of medicine and healthcare in general, as they are one of the factors contributing to the economic development of states. The trend towards the need to invent innovations, both in the field of technology and medicines, leads to changes in the legislation of regional integration associations, as well as in the domestic legislation of the member states of these integration associations. The development of medicine contributes to the development of medical tourism, which is a positive trend. At the same time, the need for innovative development of medicine cannot go in isolation from the norms of religion. With the development of the innovative pharmaceutical business, such issues as the development of modern education, labor legislation, constitutional legislation, as well as the norms of international public and international private law intersect when it comes to private medical companies, cross-border pharmaceutical business. Indeed, the innovative development of health care is possible in the consolidation of the medical community, the exchange of experience, in combination with the norms of religion.

Assessment of the State of Economic Security of Regional Integration Associations on the Example of the Eurasian Economic Union

Assessment of the State of Economic Security of Regional Integration Associations on the Example of the Eurasian Economic Union

ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКИЙ СОЮЗ: ІСТОРІЯ СТАНОВЛЕННЯ ТА ЙОГО ЗНАЧЕННЯ ДЛЯ УКРАЇНИ

ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКИЙ СОЮЗ: ІСТОРІЯ СТАНОВЛЕННЯ ТА ЙОГО ЗНАЧЕННЯ ДЛЯ УКРАЇНИ

Regional Integration in the Face of Modern Challenges: The Case of the EU and ASEAN

The article examines the effectiveness of interaction between states within the framework of regional integration associations in order to collectively overcome the crisis phenomena in the economic, political and social sphere. In the course of the study the tasks of studying the concept of integration as an important category of the modern political system and international relations were defined and solved. The study identifies a number of factors that have become prerequisites for the territorial association of states, such as: issues requiring joint decision-making, territorial proximity, the desire to create an area for export, thereby increasing the competitiveness and productive capacity of large enterprises, as well as meeting the needs of the domestic market. Among the above factors, the collective solution to crisis situations that affect the entire region is one of the important reasons for the association of countries in integration organizations, as integrated associations have more opportunities for rapid and effective decision-making and ensure the practical implementation of strategies in the face of global challenges. This paper analyzes the crisis management policies of the EU and ASEAN countries during the coronavirus pandemic. The outbreak of coronavirus infection has caused a decline in the economy, affected the social sphere, and made adjustments in the policies of individual states and the world community. COVID-19 showed the failure of many social institutions, revealed existing problems, and tested the strength of all spheres of human activity. The result of the work should be considered the identified characteristics of how the integrated actors of international relations responded and what measures were taken to solve the crisis situations in the context of COVID-19, as well as the consequences of the anti-crisis policies implemented. An important point is the assessment of the degree of interaction within the integrated associations themselves, the involvement of each member in the process. In addition, the coherence or, on the contrary, disunity makes it possible to talk about the depth, intensity of integration or its superficial, formal nature in this or that organization.     Key words: regional integration, crisis, COVID-19, EU, ASEAN, challenges of our time.

Theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of the processes of economic convergence and divergence of regional integration associations

The article presents the results of the study of theoretical and methodological provisions and classification attributes (principles, types, approaches, specificity) of the conceptual framework of «convergence/divergence» conceptual systems as applied to regional integration associations in an uncertain geo-economic environment. The authors conducted an extensive review of scientific literature and cross-research materials which helped to identify forms of interaction between integration associations under the conditions of increasing globalization through deepening of integration processes, which made it possible to formulate a new economic effect of regionalization «aggregation». The study, as a whole, deepens the systematic mapping of the development of the main stages in the evolution of economic models based on the theory of convergence and divergence in the system of economic knowledge, which will serve as a basis for retesting old and initiating new empirical tests for econometric modelling of the impact of endogenous and exogenous variables on the activities of integration associations.

Позиции и перспективы валют стран с формирующимися рынками

Over the past two decades of the 21st century, there has been an increase in the role of the currencies of emerging markets in the global foreign exchange market, but their positions in the international monetary system have not significantly changed. The article demonstrates the continuing gap between the role of the leading emerging market economies in the global economy and finance and the position of their currencies in the international monetary system. This gap is driven by lower liquidity premiums for the currencies of EME countries, relatively underdevelopment of their financial systems and greater financial instability, restrictions on the placement of securities denominated in national currencies on international financial markets, as well as geopolitical factors (including the risks of imposing sanctions regimes by the developed countries). It is shown that the internationalization of the EME currencies is facilitated by such factors as internal financial stability, the relative development of national financial markets and a significant role of issuing countries in world trade. On the example of China, the relative success of the policy of internationalization of the yuan is shown, on the example of Mexico and Russia, the role of participation in regional integration associations to expand the external circulation of national currencies. There is an increase in the role of geopolitical factors in determining the positions of individual EME currencies, especially since 2022. The scenario of fragmentation of the international monetary and financial system is considered, which implies a relative weakening of the positions of current leading world currencies with a relative strengthening of the positions of the individual EME currencies (primarily Chinese yuan). Measures are proposed to strengthen the positions of EME currencies in the new geopolitical conditions: activation of interaction processes in regional and mega-regional associations, formation of payment and settlement systems within them in national currencies using digital technologies, creation of regional markets for securities denominated in national currencies, the conclusion and activation of multilateral currency swap agreements between the central banks of EME countries.

Challenges in developing integrated transport space over the world economic integration associations

Institutional, organisational, managerial, and financial problems typical for the development of transport systems of regional integration associations, major transport and logistics projects, such as EU or BRI, have been systematised by the author. The interrelation of the highlighted problems from the point of view of limitation of maximization of efficiency of transport and logistics processes and functioning of the unified transport system as a result of their influence is shown. Particular attention is paid to managerial, financial and economic problems in the sphere of transport integration.

EAEU and ASEAN: Reasons for differences in FDI inflows with similar integration models

In the modern world economy, we can observe, how some regional economic integration associations are becoming centers of attraction for foreign direct investment (FDI), while others are experiencing an acute shortage of them. This situation can be traced when comparing two integration groupings - the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Information from various media and scientifi publications indicates that the EAEU, of which Russia is a member, today can hardly be called successful in attracting FDI. ASEAN, on the contrary, is the largest recipient of foreign capital among developing countries. In order to actually support this information and determine specifi quantitative discrepancies between the volume of FDI infl to the EAEU and the volume of FDI infl to ASEAN, relevant statistical data were analyzed. It has been proved that the infl of FDI to the EAEU, even during favorable periods of growth, was signifi lower than the infl of FDI to ASEAN. Such circumstances make you think about the reasons that cause them, and also raise additional questions. What are the competitive advantages in ASEAN for attracting FDI in comparison with the EAEU? What can the EAEU do to attract more FDI? To answer these questions, a comparative analysis of the EAEU and ASEAN was carried out, including two stages. The fi stage was to compare their main economic and geographical indicators, and the second stage was to compare them with the position of the motives of foreign investors. It is concluded that the main reasons for the diff in FDI infl to ASEAN and to EAEU are, fi , the stronger position of ASEAN in economic and geographical indicators, and, secondly, the availability of conditions in ASEAN to satisfy almost any of the motives of a foreign investor. The author gives brief recommendations to the supranational bodies of the EAEU on improving conditions for foreign investors.

SMART CITIES IN EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION: OUTLOOK FOR RUSSIAN REGIONAL TECHNOLOGICAL LEADERSHIP

Smart Cities have been in the focus of scientific community, states, and city authorities for over decade now. Unprecedented urbanization rates are forcing governments to think about how to provide comfortable and safe living in high population density regions. Our research shows that this subject is making its way to priority matter of regional integration associations around the globe. For instance, the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are already implementing joint projects and initiatives in the field of smart cities. It is expected that due to the development of the digital agenda of the Eurasian Economic Union smart cities will be discussed within the EAEU. Regarding these trends, the authors raise a research question whether Russia, taking advantage of such strategic advantages as geographical remoteness from global innovation hubs, cultural and historical multidimensional ties, and relying on rich experience in the development of smart city technologies, can effectively compete with foreign technology suppliers and achieve technological leadership in the Eurasian region. We apply a comprehensive methodology based on the methods of Gartner, NASA and PM Solutions to derive the empirical data and evidence-based conclusions on market structure, industry and geographical breakdowns and evaluate Russia’s technological prospects in the region for the following decade.

Questions of Assessing the Level of State Support to Industry and Its Impact on Economic Indicators of Development in Regional Integration Associations.

—In the article, based on the analysis of world theoretical and practical ideas, a methodological approach has been developed to assess the level of state support for industry based on the use of a set of indicators: the amount of state support in GDP, industrial production, and industries. Separately, an approach is proposed to assess the level of state support for exports, taking into account the possibility of determining the volume of industrial subsidies in order to facilitate the promotion of goods to foreign markets. In addition, the article proposes a methodological approach to facilitate the impact of the volume of industrial subsidies on certain economic indicators related to the goals of implementing state support measures based on an analysis of the industrial support policy in regional integration associations.

The People and the Nation: Populism and Ethno-Territorial Politics in Europe, edited by Reinhard Heinisch, Emanuele Massetti, and Oscar Mazzoleni. London and New York: Routledge, 2019. xii, 312 pp. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351265560.

At the present stage of European integration, a comparative analysis of the various dimensions of peoples and nations, populism and ethno-territorial politics in Europe is of great importance. The future of European integration, scenarios and models of its development have always been in the focus of attention not only of politicians, but also of political scientists, sociologists and other scientists. The topic of populism has received fairly wide coverage in international and European political science in recent years, it is even appropriate to talk about the explosive nature of interest in this topic in connection with the events of the 2010s in the political party field of European countries and the United States. However, it is obvious that it is necessary to consider populism and right-wing populism in a complex perspective, both at the general theoretical level and at the more specific level of certain incidents. This is explained by the very uniqueness of the European project, which has no equal among regional integration associations in terms of the degree of integration of its member countries. At the same time, today the EU is faced with many problems that, according to some experts, are of an existential nature. The most striking evidence of this is the outcome of the referendum in the UK on leaving the EU. The growth of Euroscepticism and nationalist sentiments is expressed today in the EU countries in a truly triumphant procession of populist parties of the right and left (Heinisch and Mazzoleni 2016, 1-18; Heinisch and Mazzoleni 2017, 105-122). This phenomenon in modern Europe is due to several interconnected phenomena both in essence and in time.

Convergence of legal regulation of circulation of healthcare technologies in international law

The subject of the research is the legal regulation of public relations in the process of circulation of healthcare technologies. The purpose of the research is to analyze the features of convergence of legal regulation of the circulation of healthcare technologies in order to develop theoretical and practical proposals to counter modern challenges and threats in this area. The article is prepared using general scientific methods of cognition, including formal-logical and situational, and private-legal methods, such as comparative-legal, historical-legal and formal-legal. The novelty of the research lies in revelation of legal convergence in the system of international law as an important mechanism for the formation of access to safe, high-quality and effective technologies for healthcare and human security. The article summarizes the main threats in the sphere of circulation of healthcare technologies that require the introduction of uniform regulatory standards. The author analyzes the features of the harmonization and integration on the example of the activities of regional integration associations in order to form recommendations for the development of legal regulation of the circulation of healthcare technologies within the common market of the EAEU countries. The novelty of the article lies in the systematic consideration of legal convergence in the system of international law as an important mechanism for the formation of access to safe, high-quality and effective healthcare technologies and ensuring human safety. Justifying the lack of a systematic approach to the convergence of international legal regulation of the circulation of healthcare technologies, the author suggests considering the possibility of preparing a normative legal act of a universal nature in this area, by analogy with codifying conventions in other branches of international law. The author analyzes the features of the harmonization and integration on the example of the activities of regional integration associations in order to form recommendations for the development of legal regulation of the circulation of healthcare technologies within the framework of the common market of the EAEU countries

INTERNATIONAL LABOR MIGRATION IN THE CONTEXT OF GEO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

The purpose of this work is to develop a methodology for the systematic study of international labor migration in conditions of geo-economic transformations and to substantiate on this basis new conceptual principles for regulating international migration at the national, interstate and regional levels. Methodology. The current state and influence of geo-economic transformations on the processes of international migration of labor resources is analyzed. It is determined that the regional migration policy should help to maximize the benefits of human resource migration for the development of the region and the use of immigrants in the region as an economic resource of strategic importance in the conditions of geo-economic transformations. The results show that the intensification of international migration contributes to removing institutional barriers to international human mobility, but numerous crises (illegal migration, migrants' income going into the shadows, humanitarian problems, social and security tensions) demonstrate the deficiencies of the institutional environment of countries pursuing migration policies. It is emphasized that deepening economic integration in less developed regions of the world requires the construction of regional migration policy as an element of the geo-economic strategies of regional integration associations. Practical implications. The issue of institutionalization of the regulation of international migration flows at the global, regional and national levels with the definition of the peculiarities of regional migration policies of certain integration associations is investigated. It is noted that the annexation of Crimea and the military conflict in eastern Ukraine have a negative impact on migration processes, leading to large-scale population displacement, a deep economic crisis and the intensification of labor migration. Value/originality. It is indicated that the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals for 2016-2030 include overcoming poverty, hunger, quality education and gender equality, reducing inequalities between countries, ensuring environmental sustainability, building a peaceful and open society. An institutional model of regional migration policy of integration associations as a factor of geo-economic transformation was developed.

Промышленная политика Евразийского экономического союза

The necessity to establish a consistent and sensibly planned industrial policy at the level of regional integration associations (RIAs) is justified in terms of the modern global structural changes as well as due to the growing number of protectionist measures applied by particular states and regional integration associations regarding the field of imported industrial goods (e.g., the EU carbon tax, trade wars, and restrictions due to economic sanctions). Despite the fact that both Russian and foreign literature pay full attention to the State industrial policy shaping and implementation issues, although, the conceptual theoretical grounds of the industrial policy shaping and implementation within RIAs are missing and are poorly researched. Based on the review of theoretical knowledges article proposes a conceptual approach to the RIAs industrial policy implementation in the context of the State industrial policy shaping. The article identifies features and restrictions hampering implementation process as well as determines proper conceptual definition of specific terms. For instance, the RIAs industrial policy consists of the complex of regulatory instruments at supranational level which have both stimulating and coordinating nature as well as national regulatory system with the aim of harmonizing the development of member countries’ industrial capacities, with the involvement of supranational institutions. Also, it is to be noted that the main feature of the RIAs industrial policy is its coordinating and stimulating nature. Using the example of Eurasian Economic Union (hereinafter, the EAEU) the approach to its industrial policy development has been developed. Based on the analysis of particular macroeconomic indicators of the EAEU Member States, their industrial development priorities, comparison of those priorities with the global trends, the following EAEU industrial strategic priorities have been identified: assisting in promotion of commodities to foreign markets, encouraging innovation activities, increasing investment attractiveness, developing small- and medium-sized businesses, environment protection, and digital transformation. The general development trajectories of industrial development which has been highlighted in the article as well as the proposed coordinating and stimulating supranational regulation measures can be a solid fundament for achieving development objectives of the EAEU Member States and play a catalyst role in transforming their economies.

РЕГУЛЮВАННЯ МІЖНАРОДНОЇ МІГРАЦІЇ РОБОЧОЇ СИЛИ В РЕГІОНАЛЬНИХ ІНТЕГРАЦІЙНИХ УГОДАХ

The globalization of world economic relations is one of the main trends of our time, which not only affects the economic life, but also has deep political and social consequences. It leads to dynamic development of international integration, which is an integral part of international economic relations, along with global capital, commodity, labor and technology transfer markets. Deeper integration at the regional level established institutional distribution platform for multilateral cooperation. Intensification of regional and multilateral liberalization of trade in services is carried out by transformation not only of the basic economic relations between countries, but also between institutions that define the matrix behavior of economic agents. One of the sign of economic integration is the liberalization of labor movement in order to combine the resources and efforts of countries in solving issues of internal integration cooperation in the field of regulating labor migration flows. There are many barriers in the field of international labor movement, including migration flows within the framework of integration associations. Therefore, the central focus of this research in terms of increased regionalization of the world economy, it becomes precisely the analysis of the principles and tools of institutional regulation of labor migration in integration associations, its evolution, as well as a comprehensive assessment of economic and social consequences of this process. The key issue of institutional regulation of international labor migration in regional integration associations is the optimization of regional and global level of cooperation based on WTO rules and principles.

Integration Processes and Cooperation of Russia with the BRICS Countries

The article presents an analysis of the current state of integration processes within the framework of the BRICS association. The factors contributing to the unification of countries into the BRICS organization and their development are considered, including: high rates of economic growth of the BRICS countries, a “critical mass” of resource potential, a large volume of the domestic market of goods and services, the coincidence of economic and political interests in the international arena. The main mechanisms of integration development and cooperation within the framework of the association are annual BRICS summits, meetings of heads of BRICS countries at various levels and their representatives, holding forums, seminars, scientific conferences and other events. It is shown that during the summits the common political and economic interests of the BRICS countries are revealed, joint solutions are developed. As a result of the summits, a number of agreements were reached, important agreements were signed, which indicates that the partnership between the BRICS countries has prospects and will develop. The cooperation of Russia with the BRICS countries in the economic and trade spheres of activity is considered. The objectives and regulatory legal framework of such cooperation are defined, the analysis of the existing trade and economic relations of Russia with each of the BRICS states is carried out, promising areas of interaction with the BRICS countries and the possibility of collective participation of BRICS in international organizations and regional integration associations, including the Eurasian Economic Union, are formed, emphasized the importance and relevance of the task of in-depth study of the economy, domestic and foreign policy of Russia’s BRICS partner states.

К ВОПРОСУ О ПРАВОВОЙ СУЩНОСТИ РЕГИОНАЛЬНЫХ ИНТЕГРАЦИОННЫХ ОБЪЕДИНЕНИЙ

This article deals with the problem of defining the legal nature of integration associations, mainly regional, as well as with the issue of revealing their major role in world affairs. Notably, it is possible to clarify the legal essence of these entities if their individual features distinguishing integration associations from the existing form of interstate cooperation, in particular international organizations, are known. Of special interest are the characteristics of such regional integration associations that are based on larger associations, such as the Eurasian Economic Union, a trade agreement between several post-Soviet states, and the European Union, a political and economic association of European states. The relations of an international character developing during the interstate cooperation within the framework of regional integration associations were described with the help of the comparative and analytical methods. A comprehensive legal definition of the concept of regional integration associations was provided based on their unique features. The latter were analyzed in detail. The considered forms of interstate cooperation were compared with international organizations. The results obtained show that an integration association is a special form of interstate cooperation of a regional nature, which is aimed at the development of foreign economic relations between member states.