Customs Union is a "backward periphery", and
it is not hard for Ukraine to choose between it and the European Union, says
Ukrainian political expert Alexander Paliy. He is sure that the Customs Union
will bring no benefit to Ukraine, Gazeta.ru said.
"Customs Union is a union of degrading, feudal
economies, where human rights are not protected," Paliy said. Meanwhile,
he said, the EU is a platform of leading economic relations. "EU is a big
center where nearly 23% of the global GDP is concentrated, while the share of
the Customs Union is just 3%," he said.
According to him, the EU and the Customs Union are absolutely
incomparable.
On September 3, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
confirmed Armenia's intention to join the Customs Union and contribute to the
process of formation of the Eurasian Union.
Vladimir Putin supported Sargsyan's decision and promised to contribute
to Yerevan's accession to the Customs Union in every possible way. Since 2010
Yerevan has been negotiating on Association Agreement (AA) and Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) with the EU. Armenia was expected to
initial the AA/DCFTA during the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius.
The Customs Union has been created within the Eurasian
economic space for trade and economic integration of Belarus, Kazakhstan and
Russia on the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin.