Russia-EU to create a single economic area

[poiuytrewq0987]

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin calls on the EU to implement the idea of a single European energy system and in the future, create a free trade area with Russia.

During his address to the State Duma, where he summarized the major outcomes of 2010, the prime minister stressed that he is sure that Europeans would ultimately back the establishment of an integrated economic community from Lisbon to Vladivostok.

Putin suggested that the abolition of visas could become “the starting point for the real integration of Russia and the EU”.

He suggested that the parties move from talking about technological and economic partnership to a dialogue between the Single Economic Area and the EU, and later to more sophisticated forms of integration, which pave the way for a “pan-continental market worth trillions of euro”. Voice of Russia

http://www.balkans.com/open-news.php...enumber=102697

[The Lawspeaker]

About bloody time that Russia and Europe got closer together as you can't have a Europe without Russia. But... err what's in it for the Russki's because we know Putin ? He is up to something and it won't be good for us.

[poiuytrewq0987]

About bloody time that Russia and Europe got closer together as you can't have a Europe without Russia. But... err what's in it for the Russki's because we know Putin ? He is up to something and it won't be good for us.

I believe that this is his motive:

which pave the way for a “pan-continental market worth trillions of euro”.

[Albion]

About bloody time

That's what I thought too! I've been thinking this for years, why the hell haven't all of Europe simply joined in a simple trade alliance or treaty (not EU, more like EEA or EFTA tops).
Leaving Russia isolated and to get cosy with the so-called Brics' is ridiculous (as ridiculous as the last letter added recently to BRIC - 'S' - South Africa)

Spoiler!

I wish Pakistan was in the BRICS and Brazil wasn't, then we could call them PRICS, although that is bad spelling

that Russia and Europe got closer together as you can't have a Europe without Russia.

Very true.

But... err what's in it for the Russki's because we know Putin ? He is up to something and it won't be good for us.

Yes, Russia has long wanted to be admitted to the EU as an equal member at the top despite having an economy not suitable to just enter at the hypothetical top.

Russia wants influence and will probably try to regain influence in Eastern Europe by trade. Whilst it is good that Russia is getting into a single trade area with Europe, it needs to be watched to make sure it doesn't get any ideas over a certain sphere of influence.

which pave the way for a “pan-continental market worth trillions of euro”.

Yes, this would help Russia develop and would give them influence in that part of Europe.

[SwordoftheVistula]

Putin suggested that the abolition of visas could become “the starting point for the real integration of Russia and the EU”.

Excellent idea-all the rubbish and riff-raf of Russia will be drained out to the western European welfare states. Tartars, Chechnyans, and Mongols, oh my!

[Albion]

Excellent idea-all the rubbish and riff-raf of Russia will be drained out to the western European welfare states. Tartars, Chechnyans, and Mongols, oh my!

Yes, relaxing the visa system isn't needed to economically integrate Russia and the rest of Europe. Relaxing the visas would be a stupid idea.

[The Lawspeaker]

The problem is indeed those people. If Russia would get rid of those areas and let them become independent and revoke the rights of these groups to hold Russian passports then relaxing the visa system isn't such a bad idea.

[poiuytrewq0987]

The problem is indeed those people. If Russia would get rid of those areas and let them become independent and revoke the rights of these groups to hold Russian passports then relaxing the visa system isn't such a bad idea.

Or just relax it for ethnic Russians. Problem solved.