Eurasian Integration Yearbook 2012

2011: Data and ReviewsChronicle of Eurasian RegionalIntegration 201113NataliaMaqsimchookNatalia Maqsimchook – MSc in Business Studies, Aston BusinessSchool, UK; Head of Projects in the EDB’s Analytical Department.She worked for more than ten years in UN organisations. Shehas contributed to various publications on the subjects of goodgovernance, regional cooperation in Central Asia, external aidcoordination, and corporate social responsibility, and is currentlyengaged in developing interaction between the financial marketsof the Single Economic Space member states.E-mail: maqsimchook_nv@eabr.orgDespite all the gloomy predictions, the CIS integration associations are gainingstrength thanks to the efforts of its members. Eight CIS countries signed the FreeTrade Area Agreement, paving the way for more advanced forms of integrationbased on CIS foundations. Moreover, the CIS countries are negotiatingagreements on regulating mutual access to national currency markets for theCIS resident banks and on key principles of currency regulation and controlin the CIS member states. Observers have commented on Ukraine’s increasedparticipation in the CIS integration processes in 2011. Regional cooperation intransport is progressing, and all eleven CIS countries have introduced unifiedtechnical standards, rules for exchanging rail cars, and a common tariff policy.On July 1, 2011 the Customs Union became fully operational and customscontrols were duly transferred from the borders between participating countriesto the CU’s external border. Since July, there has been a significant reduction inthe number of preferential duty rates for certain goods applicable in Kazakhstan.These preferential arrangements had been implemented to protect Kazakhstan’smarkets from competing goods, and therefore their existence had hindered thefull-scale launch of the CU. Discussions are now under way on unifying passportand visa controls in the CU member states. The CU Commission has approveda draft agreement on transporting goods by pipelines and power lines acrossEurasian Development Bank229