The problems and prospects of the Eurasian Economic Union's enlargement

The Eurasian Economic Union (the EEU) has begun functioning as a union of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia since 2015. The creation of this international organization has become the successive stage of integration process on the post-Soviet territory, and replaced the Eurasian Economic Community (the EurAsEC). The enlargement of EEU is an important condition of strengthening positions of the integration association on the world arena. At the same time this process faces challenges which are caused by the crisis in the union states' economies, economic sanctions against Russia. In foreseeable prospect the possibilities of further enlargement of the EEU at the expense of the post-Soviet states are questionable. In these circumstances the key place in further enlargement of the EEU is given to Central Asian states. Kyrgyzstan joined the Union in May, 2015. Tajikistan is considered to be the next candidate. The affiliation of these states into the Eurasian Economic Union is connected with objective difficulties. However, their participation in the union is able to give synergetic economic effect. The affiliation of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan into the union is beyond exclusively economic feasibility, and also pursues the aim of ensuring stability and security of southern boundaries of the EEU member-states. A closer integration of the post-Soviet territory will be of long-term priority for Russia and its EEC partners.