Belarus least prepared for Common Economic Space: German Gref, Head of Russia’s Sberbank

Moscow and Astana are more ready for integration within the Common Economic Space than Minsk, Novosti Kazakhstan reported, citing German Gref, Head of Russia’s Sberbank. “I think Russia and Kazakhstan are far more prepared for the integration. Integration with Belarus calls for more joint work. If this work is not done, we may not achieve the anticipated effect”, Gref told at a press-conference in Almaty October 14. However, within the Common Economic Space “integration process is at top gear”, according to him. “It is of great importance for the member states to pursue concerted policies”, he emphasized. He cited a “more mature integration – the EU (…) We have witnessed lack of synchronization of policies resulting in disintegration processes [in the EU]”, Gref said. Head of Sberbank stressed that “it should be clear that each national government has the responsibility to pursue a single policy that may sometimes contradict with the nation’s current economic policy”. Gref believes “there are some political trends within the CIS that hamper economic integration (…) Unfortunately, disintegration is on the rise”, he said.