The : A new player on the international arena 31 October 2014

Location: Convention Center ‘Het Pand’, Onderbergen 1, Gent

The aim of this one-day workshop is to discuss the implications of the Treaty establishing the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), which was signed on 29 May 2014 between the Presidents of Russia, Belarus and .

The Treaty is expected to enter into force in January 2015 and raises several questions con- cerning, amongst others, the legal status and institutional framework of the new organisation, its political objectives and practical consequences for EU companies active in the region.

In a first panel, official and academic representatives from the EEU Member States will be given an opportunity to spell out the background and key features of the proc- ess of Eurasian economic integration. In a second panel, the implications of this process will be analysed from the perspective of the European Union and the World Trade Organisation. A third panel will focus on the expected business implications.

Participation fee: 20 EURO/10 EURO (member VLKVK). Students can attend free of charge, but need to present their valid student card at the entrance.

Online registration at: https://congres.ugent.be/EEU2014/

in cooperation with:

VLAAMSE KAMER VAN KOOPHANDEL voor Rusland, Kazachstan en Wit-Rusland ФЛАМАHДСКАЯ ТОРГОВО-ПРОМЫШЛЕННАЯ ПАЛАТА Россия - Казахстан - Беларусь PROGRAMME

9.00-9.20: Registration

9.20-10.00: Welcome and opening Prof. Peter Van Elsuwege, Ghent European Law Institute (Ghent University) Mr. Karel Van Hoorebeke, Flemish Chamber of Commerce for Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus (VLKVK)

10.00-12.00: Panel 1: The process of Eurasian economic integration: legal and political frame- work

Chair: Prof. M. Maresceau, Ghent European Law Institute (Ghent University) Speakers: Mr. Mark Entin, Russian ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Mr. Roman Sobolev, Head of the External Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Foreign Af- fairs, Belarus Prof. Zhenis Kembayev, KIMEP University, , Kazakhstan Mr. Maksim Karliuk, Belarusian State University and European Studies Institute at Moscow State Institute for International Relations (MGIMO-University)

12.00-13.00 Lunch

13.00-15.00 Panel 2: The Eurasian Economic Union: perspectives from the European Union and the World Trade Organisation

Chair: Prof. I. Govaere, Ghent European Law Institute (Ghent University) Speakers: Dr. Marc Franco, Egmont Institute and former Head of the European Commission’s delegation to Russia Prof. Rilka Dragneva, University of Birmingham Dr. Guillaume van der Loo, Ghent European Law Institute Mr. Hrant Konstantyan, Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS)

15.00-15.15 Coffee break

15.15-17.15 Panel 3: The Eurasian Economic Union: business implications

Chair: Prof. E. Lannon, Ghent European Law Institute (Ghent University) Speakers: Mr. Igor Danilov (Dentons Law Firm, Brussels) Mr. Paul Raes (Former Customs Attaché- Embassy of Belgium in Moscow) Mr. Didier Duponselle (Ahlers)

17.00 Concluding remarks and reception

Online registration at: https://congres.ugent.be/EEU2014/