The Free Movement of Persons in the Eurasian Economic Union – between Civis Eurasiaticus and Homo Oeconomicus

Abstract

Few commentators would suggest that the Eurasian Economic Union (eaeu) is in any way a European Union (EU) “in the making”. Nonetheless, as a regional integration project, the eaeu faces many challenges similar to those faced by the EU, and much can be learned from an informed comparison of the two organisations. The present chapter examines the state of the right to free movement of persons in the Eurasian Economic Union. No formal eaeu citizenship exists which would be comparable to EU citizenship, and an examination of the existing legal framework reveals a rather limited conception of the “Civis Eurasiaticus”.1 Yet the case law of the Eurasian Economic Union Court (eaeu Court) and the interpretative leeway of certain provisions of eaeu law leave space to reflect on potential future developments. Additionally, some inspiration may come from the citizenship provisions of the RussiaBelarus Union state legal framework.