On September 19, the third annual summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS, the union of the twelve former Soviet republics) was held in Yalta, Crimea. Ten of the twelve presidents of the member states attended. The agenda included the signing of documents on the economic development plan up to 2010, the fight against illegal migration, and the control of arms sales.
At the same time, a historic event took place: the presidents of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan signed an agreement for the creation of a Common Economic Space (EEC) that will try to be the new engine of the processes in the CIS.
The heads of state signed an economic development plan for the next seven years that determines the creation of a zone of free movement of goods, capital, services and labor between the four countries with a higher level of economy than the other CIS member countries.
The formation process will likely be completed within five to seven years, during which four states will need to sign approximately 50 treaties and agreements. Furthermore, the EEC is open to all republics of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which can join when their economies are ready.
Not all Ukrainian politicians agree, and in fact, they believe that signing the agreement on the creation of the Common Economic Space completely excludes Ukraine from doing business in its entry into the International Trade Organization and other international structures.
The majority of the Ukrainian population (60,1%) supports the presidents' initiative to form the EEC and the future creation of a regional integration organization. 9,4% of Ukrainians disagree with this idea, 15,7% are indifferent, and 14,8% were undecided.
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