Contours of union integration : Evolution of cooperation between the regions of Belarus and Russia / Boris Zalessky

Abstract

Strategic cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation is comprehensive and multidimensional today. In the difficult conditions of the coronavirus pandemic, the parties continue to maintain intensive contacts at the highest and highest levels, various formats of intergovernmental, interparliamentary and interagency interaction, which ensured traditionally high dynamics of bilateral relations. In September 2021 the Council of Ministers of the Union State of Belarus and Russia approved the guidelines for implementation of the provisions of the Treaty on the Union State for 2021-2023 and 28 Union State programs aimed to undertake large-scale tasks to strengthen the Belarusian-Russian integration, to deepen industrial cooperation. At that the parties noted that the direct partnership ties between the regions are becoming an increasingly important factor in strengthening of mutual trust and economic cooperation. This is confirmed by the specific practice of Belarusian-Russian interregional cooperation in 2021, which was implemented in a variety of formats. How it happens in practice is discussed in the materials of the proposed study.