COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INTEGRATION PROCESSES IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES (CIS) AND THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU)

Abstract

The European Union (EU) shares a common border with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), created in 1991. Today, the EU has become an important trading partner for the CIS. In 1991, the EU launched a program to provide technical assistance to the CIS countries. Currently, cooperation with the CIS countries is based on the European Neighborhood Policy and cooperation with Central Asia.
Initially, the relations of the countries of the European Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States were regulated by an agreement on trade, economic and commercial cooperation. However, later the spheres of interaction were expanded. It was about creating a permanent dialogue mechanism on various issues, including external security.
The European Union began to pursue the most active policy in relation to the CIS countries since the mid-2000s, when, as a result of eastward expansion, it approached the borders of the post-Soviet space. It was then that Europe began to consider the CIS as a zone of its vital interests. In subsequent years, the European Union strengthened its policy towards the countries of the post-Soviet space. However, despite all attempts, the European Union has not been able to significantly strengthen its influence in the CIS countries. However, the EU is not going to stop and will try to strengthen its influence in the region in the future.