Blessing in Disguise - Russia Thanks the EU For the Sanctions; Domestic Production Has Prospered
It’s time to invest in Russia until it’s too late. The European Parliament has held a roundtable discussion on the cooperation with Russia in the context of sanctions. They talked about the losses that the EU countries suffered because of restrictive measures and the ways to achieve their economic interests.
Anastasia Popova is reporting from Brussels.
The Europeans who came to the roundtable discussion were ready to hear how much Russia suffered from economic sanctions. Instead, the delegation thanked them. Thanks to restrictive measures, our country finally engaged in product diversification and import substitution. And at the same time, it leaves the doors open for cooperation.
Alexander Vedrusov, political scientist: "Let's play by our rules and create a big Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok, let's take the Eurasian space as a common continent, as Europe and Asia. Russia, as a country that connects the continent into a single one, is ready to be this bridge".
New trains, four lines of civil aircraft that Europe already buys from us, fleet is being actively constructed, money is being invested in the agriculture. Russia has already become the world’s leader in wheat exports.
Aldo Karkachi, the Belgian parliament deputy: "Now is the very moment when we need to invest in Russia. We can’t waste time because while we’re still thinking, it will be too late in six months. Others will take our place, meaning Americans, Chinese or Japanese. We must resume the exports of fruit and vegetables, as it used to be".
The damage to Europe is estimated at $ 60-100 billion. At the same time, the US, having dictated sanctions, manages to increase trade. Washington seems to be trying to take the European entrepreneurs’ place, intimidating the business with fakes in the media.
Roberto Chiambetti, the Veneto Regional Council Chairman: "In my country, outlets are always anti-Russian, I don’t know why. And if someone dares to say something different, they immediately get blamed by the US, which starts some kind of investigations, as it happened with me, for example. Why are we interested in Russia? Because it’s our partner. This benefits the Italian economy. Why are we forbidden to communicate at the political level? Are we free citizens or not?"
There is freedom, of course, but within certain limits, established by the economic interests of the transatlantic partner.
The roundtable discussion on the investment attractiveness of the Russian regions. was kept secret until the last moment. Invitations to the European Parliament members were sent personally. Some feared that the event would be banned, given that the presentation of the Crimea was the key topic. It was the first time that the peninsula is spoken about in Brussels in such a context. They told and showed how promising this region is and agreed to continue the Dialogue at the 4th International Economic Forum in Yalta next April. Delegations from 60 countries are expected to come. Last time, they managed to sign contracts worth 100 billion rubles.
Anastasia Popova, Ilya Bernadsky, Vesti, Brussels, Belgium