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Customs Union should learn from European Union’s mistakes – Kazakh deputy prime minister

According to Kelimbetov, the Customs Union member countries, namely Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus, have been scrutinizing the European integration model

ASTANA, April 26 (Itar-Tass) – Many countries are interested in joining the Customs Union with its enormous market but to be more efficient it must learn from mistakes of the European Union, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Kairat Kelimbetov said on Friday at a meeting of the 11th Eurasian media forum.

“We are very glad that many countries want to join the Customs Union. They are holding consultations of that matter. Thus, Ukraine is studying the Customs Union legislation. Many countries want to sign a free trade agreement. We are now in talks with Vietnam and other countries. Everyone understands that this enormous market can give lavish profits,” he noted.

According to Kelimbetov, the Customs Union member countries, namely Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus, have been scrutinizing the European integration model. “Now drawbacks of integration are clearly seen. But what we should learn from the Europeans is their approach to correcting errors they have made,” he stressed.

The Customs Union, he noted, was created as an answer to challenges of the global financial crisis. “Our society sometimes shows a somewhat radical approach – it is all either very good, or very bad. But, generally speaking, I believe that the European model is still an example for us. And despite the problems they are facing now, we should learn from them a lot,” he added.

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