VILNIUS, October 10 (Itar-Tass) - The aim of the European Union’s policy is a common economic space sprawling from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Pacific in the east, Lithuanian diplomat Vygaudas Usackas, head of the European Union’s delegation in Russia, said on Thursday in an interview with the Express weekly here.
He recalled that the EU and Russia were working on the Partnership for Modernisation programme. The diplomat said that among its priority trends were the establishment of a common legal, economic and educational space and planning joint moves in international politics. “Our long-term ambitious aim is creating an integrated economic space from Lisbon to Vladivostok,” Usackas said.
He regards the EU Eastern Partnership programme as part of this plan and asserts that “it was not meant as being harmful to Russia”. The EU representative believes that, “quite on the contrary, Russia will get huge advantages” from the integration of the Eastern Partnership countries in the European economy.
“Commercial and investment opportunities of Russian economic players will improve considerably thanks to the access to the EU market, as well as due to clearer legislation and prosperity in the Eastern Partnership countries,” Usackas said. He said that thanks to its unique geographic position and economic potential Russia “will, undoubtedly, always play a special role” in Europe.