Stereotypes influences on economic relations between the European Union countries and Russian Federation — страница 4

respect. But the common economic space cannot be created without the development of a free trade zone, at least in a distant future, as a fundamental prerequisite for dynamic economic interaction. Thus Russia will be able to enhance their economic status on the world stage show consistency and development of the Russian economy. Moreover Russia accession to the WTO will help solve many problems. Cooperation in this area aims at further integration of Russia into the world economy and at preparation for Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The EU recognizes the fundamental role that WTO membership plays in integrating Russia into the world economy and in anchoring and consolidating Russia’s economic reforms. Advantages stemming from Russia’s accession to

the WTO will be reciprocal. It will provide more stability and predictability, better terms of access, increased legal security for EU investments in Russia. Russian exporters will have guaranteed channels of exports to all EU markets and to other WTO members. The other view shared by various people both in the EU and in Russia purports that in view of widening and deepening of the European integration and with consideration of the new threats and challenges to European security the relations between Russia and the EU should be brought to a higher new level of cooperation which the 1997 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement cannot provide. Such new level of cooperation could be attained through an Agreement on Establishing a Special Association between the Russian Federation and

the European Union. This goal fully meets long-term interests of both Europe and Russia. On the one hand, such an Agreement on Association perse does not imply Russia's aspiration to join the EU as its member. On the other hand, such an agreement would provide solid legal basis for the relations evolving between the EU and Russia. It would contribute to the convergence of Russian and EU political, economic and legal systems; enhance sustainable development of their economies; promote further development of democracy in Russia, and ensure closer cooperation of its parties in all directions including security measures. The «special association» implies that the EU agreement with Russia draws a distinct line between this and other agreements on association with consideration of

Russia's importance and status, its role in the termination of the «cold war,» as well as its input in the anti terrorist coalition. Undoubtedly, an Agreement on Association perse won't resolve all problems in the EU-Russia relations but together with some other measures and programs such an agreement would bridge the existing gap between the unifying Europe and Russia, which is likely to lead to the emergence of a new dividing line on the European continent. The success of future partnership between Russia and the European Union will depend on the impact which the processes of widening and deepening of European integration, first and foremost, its institutional transformations in the enlarged European Union will have on its viability and its efficiency as Europe's primary

international institution. Step 4.Results of first attempts solving problem. Finally a major difficulty in creating a corporate image in the West is a serious lack of people representing Russian companies in the public sphere. The frequency of Russian companies and their directors being mentioned in prominent foreign press testifies to the serious scarcity of “individuals” in the public sphere. More recently the formation of an objective economic premise to improve the image of Russian companies has begun.  This is tied to the increasing number of foreign investors in Russia and the growing presence of Russian business and assets in Europe .During this process businesses not only need to deepen mutual trust and establish stable connections but Russian companies must also

more actively and openly work with foreign mass media.  There needs to be newsworthy public figures, capable of eliciting an informal interest from Western audiences.  The reputation of Russian businessmen is improving and this is connected with the growing number of companies known to Western audiences, the “acclimatization” of foreign audiences to the stream of news about Russian companies and the favorable indices of Russian economics. Investors are ready to invest money in the development of Russia.  The Russian stock market last year grew 80% and, in the opinion of investors, overcame risks.  This fact is, for many, more important than the image of business and the country in which it is unfolding.  But Russia's business structure and