by Kostis Geropoulos ATHENS – Cash-strapped Greece advanced its cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) on February 26, aiming to act as an economic bridge between the EU and the new union of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Armenia that started functioning in January 2015. “I think that relations with the Eurasian Union have to be advanced throughout the European Union,” Spyros Kouvelis, the president of the newly-established Greek Eurasian Business Council (GEBC), told New Europe on February 26 on the sidelines of the launch of the council’s business activities. “It’s a very important economic part of the world. It’s a very important opportunity to reach out to a very strong developing economy,” said Kouvelis, who is a former deputy foreign minister of Greece. “I do not understand why Europe will not look in its neighbourhood and work as closely as they can and I believe Greece and from our business council [GEBC], being the first in the European Union, we can certainly try to explain, advance and be focused on good business on both sides which is a win-win for everyone,” he added. Eurasian Economic Commission (ECC) Integration Development Director Victor Spasskiy told New Europe in Athens that cooperation extends beyond the energy sector to food products, medicine and chemicals. He said the EAEU is eager to establish formal cooperation with the EU. “We are very young - only two months old. That’s why it is necessary to have real, official contacts,” he said, adding that the EAEU is also ready to cooperate with other countries and international organisations. Spasskiy, who is based in Moscow, also voiced his support for the Turkish Stream pipeline that is promoted by Russian gas monopoly Gazprom after it scrapped its planned South Stream pipeline to Europe in December. “[Turkish Stream] is a good idea. Turkey is a good partner and we have very good relations in economic sphere with Turkey. If Turkish businesses are now ready to buy more gas, why not?” he said, adding that in the future Russia could also supply gas to Europe through Turkey and Greece. Spasskiy admitted that Western sanctions against Moscow for its role in Ukraine are affecting not only Russia but EAEU-members Kazakhstan and Belarus. He said Russia’s plunging ruble, the sharp drop in oil prices and the sanctions are hurting their economies. In contrast, the Eurasian Economic Union is developing its relations with Asia. “Our relations with Asian countries are developing pretty good and results are positive. That’s why if we can’t buy some food producers here in the European Union, we can buy in Latin America, Asia and even South Africa,” Spasskiy said. He reiterated the idea of a United Eurasia from Lisbon to Vladivostok, launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin and echoed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Munich. “We are the real bridge between Europe and Asia. It is absolutely natural to develop our countries,” Spasskiy said. Asked about tensions between Russia and the EU, Spasskiy sighed, stressing that the Eurasian Economic Union is purely an economical organisation without any policy or security agendas. “That’s why it’s a good basis for developing relations,” he said. follow on twitter@energyinsider Previously on Energy Insider: Putin Willing to Exhume South Stream for EU Turkey Wants It Both Ways: Russian Gas, EU Pipe Tsipras Sees Red (Pipeline), Accepts Putin Invite
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