In November 2011, the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia agreed to establish a “Eurasian Economic Commission” (EAEK) charged with the development and functioning of the Customs Union and a “Single Economic Space” comprising the three states. Their presidents and other political actors referred to the European Union and its formation to frame these projects and the envisaged creation of a “Eurasian Union” until 2015. Ideas originating from European integration have already been incorporated in the design of the EAEK, the Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Community.
The paper will analyze how these institutions have been designed and to what extent they emulate the European Union’s “Community Method” in contrast with more intergovernmental methods of cooperation. Whereas the labelling of institutions refers to examples of EU institutions, their prerogatives largely remain subject to the member states’ discretion. Their emergence has been more incremental than acknowledged by its recent advocates, and (hidden) templates can be found among “homemade” Commonwealth of Independent States and Soviet predecessor institutions.
The paper will argue that references to the European Union serve to distinguish the new integration projects from both the Soviet Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States (SNG). Moreover, references to European integration are made to convince other post-soviet states of Russia’s non-imperial intentions, while addressing pro-imperial aspirations in segments of the Russian electorate.The implications of these findings are discussed with regard to debates on institutional design and change.
