Economic cooperation of Russia and Greece during the sanction restrictions period and the policies to strengthen the integration process

The article is devoted to defining the economic cooperation between Russia and Greece in the context of the sanction measures and the ways to strengthen the integration process among the two countries. The authors analyze different economic cooperation measures between Russia and Greece as the subjects for this study. Firstly, they identified the reasons for the considerable elimination of Russian-Greek trade relations. Secondly, they presented a detailed description of a mutual economic cooperation scheme for the period 2014- 2016. Thirdly, they propose measures to stimulate economic cooperation between Russia and Greece. As a result of this research, the authors concluded that we should not expect a major breakthrough in the external economic cooperation between Russia and Greece in the coming years, at least, before overcoming the economic depression in the economies of the two countries and the complete removal of sanction restrictions between Russia and the European Union.peer-reviewe

PROSPECTS OF THE REGIONAL INTEGRATION POLICY BASED ON CLUSTER FORMATION

The purpose of this article is to develop the theoretical foundations of regional integration policy and to determine its prospects on the basis of cluster formation. The authors use such research methods as systematization, comparative and complex analysis, synthesis, statistical method. Within the framework of the research, the concept of regional integration policy is specified, and its integration core – cluster – is allocated. The authors work out an algorithm of regional clustering, which will ensure the growth of economy and tax income. Measures have been proposed to optimize the organizational mechanism of interaction between the participants of the territorial cluster and the authorities that allow to ensure the effective functioning of clusters, including taxation clusters. Based on the results of studying the existing methods for assessing the effectiveness of cluster policy, the authors propose their own approach to evaluating the consequences of implementing the regional integration policy, according to which the list of quantitative and qualitative indicators is defined. The present article systematizes the experience and results of the cluster policy of certain European countries, that made it possible to determine the prospects and synergetic effect from the development of clusters as an integration foundation of regional policy in the Russian Federation. The authors carry out the analysis of activity of cluster formations using the example of the Rostov region – a leader in the formation of conditions for the cluster policy development in the Southern Federal District. 11 clusters and cluster initiatives are developing in this region. As a result, the authors propose measures for support of the already existing clusters and creation of the new ones