Participating in a panel in yesterday’s European Business Summit in Brussels, Fomichev underlined that “Moscow shares the EU’s values and has no problem whatsoever in deepening its relations, including at a political level”, Euractiv.com reports.
The panel, which was named “EU-Russia & Ukraine: Towards a pan-European market”, included also Andriy Klyuyev, Ukrainian First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Trade and Günther Oettinger, the European Commissioner for Energy.
Fomichev admitted that it is impossible for Russia to join the EU. However he underlined that “we want to go as far as possible without being a member”. He maintained the two parts should first introduce a visa-free regime, then adopt a free-trade agreement and then “maybe in 20 years” establish a customs union.
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The deputy minister maintained that a period of 10-15 years will be necessary for negotiating the customs union. In this period Russia could introduce the necessary regulations and boost the competitiveness of domestic industry.
Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger in the panel called for a new level in EU-Russia relations. “Today, Russia’s main economic activity is to produce energy, […] while the EU acts mainly as a buyer”, he said, adding that “We need a next level meaning competition, meaning joint ventures, meaning reverse flows, meaning innovative partnerships, EU technologies used in Russia and Ukraine for energy saving,” Euractiv reports.
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