Muntiyan: European integration without participation in CU is invitation to Titanic

Government commissioner Valeriy Muntiyan believes that Ukraine's integration with the European Union without participation in the Customs Union is "an invitation to the Titanic", Ukraine's government commissioner for cooperation with the Russian Federation, member-countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Eurasian Economic Community and other regional associations said during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"For me, the construction of the Eurasian Economic Union is the construction of a new Ark - the whole world is watching us. And invitation of Ukraine to the free trade area and the European Union under such circumstances, without participation in the Customs Union and Common Economic Space, in my opinion, is an invitation to the Titanic," Muntiyan said, Ukrinform reports.

He noted that in the chaos reigning in the world, the three heads of states made the right choice by giving Ukraine the opportunity to become an observer in the Customs Union in the future. "The future is with the Eurasian Economic Union, and Ukraine sees itself in this union," he said.

Muntiyan stressed that all scientific calculations, mathematical and economic modulations and expert estimates suggest that Ukraine should be in the Eurasian Economic Union.

"The European Union has been in a recession for seven years, and by the pace of development it is in the 191st place," he said.