Forms and Mechanisms of Economic Cooperation Between Russia and Belarus Within the Union State: Tasks, Problems, Achievements

Introduction

The post-Soviet space is a complex geopolitical, economic, social and cultural phenomenon. This is the “Large Space”, which records a long historical experience of interaction and coexistence of different peoples within the framework of Russia, the Moscow kingdom, the Russian Empire, the USSR. History shows that centripetal and centrifugal tendencies constantly interacted and dynamically replaced each other, always preserving the basic connections between peoples, regardless of changes in the state structure. And now, considering the development of the post-Soviet space, we are witnessing an interweaving of integration and disintegration tendencies within the framework of the “Large Space”, which unites not only Russia and Belarus, but also the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states.

Exploring the development of this macro-region (post-Soviet space) in historical dynamics, it is impossible not to note the tendency of mutual attraction of many peoples of the post-Soviet space to each other and, above all, to Russia. For these deep reasons, regional integration in the post-Soviet space has a special historical, cultural and geopolitical uniqueness. Especially if we are talking about the Union State of Russia and Belarus, which is formed, in fact, by one people, because the Russians and Belarusians come from the same root and have a common history, a common mentality, common ideas about the structure of the world, etc. It also explains why within the framework of the USSR one of the most successful examples of economic cooperation was the cooperation between the Belarusians and the Russians. That is why the economic integration of Russia and Belarus is based on the cultural interaction of peoples and the political dialogue, which must be mentioned in our study.

The peculiarities of the post-Soviet space for the first time fully manifested themselves in the framework of the Union State, for this reason, the movement to further integration formats in the post-Soviet space, for example, within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), is justified. And already the development of the EAEU raises the question of promoting the integration movement towards China (conjugation of the Eurasian integration with the Silk Road) and in the direction of the European Union within the framework of the idea of ​​“Greater Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok”. In the Union State for the first time, the question of the harmonization of norms and standards was raised, which, in particular, is carried out by Russia and Belarus together and in accordance with international standards. In this regard, the Union State is also perceived as a test model for testing different versions of economic regional integration, based on political dialogue.

In the Union State, close and strong economic ties are formed, which have not been affected by the global financial crises. Russia is the main economic, trade and strategic partner of Belarus. It represents the main market for Belarusian industry and agriculture, and is the main supplier of the necessary energy resources for the country. In turn, Belarus significantly strengthens the position of Russia, providing it with additional access to the borders of European states through Belarusian transport corridors. Today, for Russia and Belarus, the priority direction for integration in the post-Soviet region is the Customs Union and the development of a single economic space. From 1999 to the present, countries have achieved a lot on this path, and their trade is constantly growing, which confirms the effectiveness of regional economic integration within the Union State.

The experience of the Union State has shown that institutions in the processes of regional economic integration play a key role. They act as a system-forming factor, determine the format and development of the integration movement. But their very formation in the post-Soviet space requires a long time. It is important that the cooperation of the parties within the framework of the Union State has shown that the desire for a multi-vector foreign policy of the participants of the integration movement also imposes its imprint on the formation of institutions. At least, the states, forming a single economic and social space, a security space, do not raise the question of a single political space with a single foreign policy orientation. Also, the Union State has set the competition dilemma of two principles in financing common projects. Thus, the principle of “proportional parity” in financing in some cases contradicts the principle of “parity” in obtaining benefits from the integration process. Another important conclusion of cooperation within the framework of the Union State is the recognition of Russia's special role in the strategy of the integration movement, which at the same time seeks to realize parity in setting its goals.