institute of europe
the institute of europe of the russian academy of sciences
MAEF 2026 Plenary Conference: Russia’s Role in Shaping a New International Economic Order: The EU and BRICS Factors
- 01 June 2026
On 27–28 May, the Eighth Moscow Academic Economic Forum (MAEF 2026), titled “Priorities for Russia’s Economic Development and Technological Sovereignty”, was held under the auspices of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Free Economic Society of Russia.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IE RAS) hosted one of the Forum’s plenary conferences. This year’s conference focused on “Russia’s Role in Shaping a New International Economic Order: The EU and BRICS Factors”. The programme featured three sessions, including two thematic panels and a special session for early-career researchers.
The conference opened with a keynote address by Olga V. Butorina, RAS Corresponding member, Deputy Director IE RAS. She highlighted the growing gap between the practice of economic integration and its theoretical interpretation, noting that prevailing narratives tend to focus primarily on internal objectives such as market integration and efficiency gains. Such approaches, she argued, overlook the strategic purpose of integration: enhancing the position of participating countries within the global economic hierarchy. The BRICS countries possess significant potential to become key drivers of a new international order by reducing the mechanisms that reproduce global inequality while taking into account the specific needs of emerging and catching-up economies.
Alexey V. Kuznetsov, RAS Corresponding member, Director of the Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences (INION RAS), examined Russia’s reorientation of its foreign economic relations towards the BRICS countries. He emphasized the importance of emerging logistics routes, including the International North–South Transport Corridor, and highlighted the need to address technological, infrastructural, and institutional barriers.
Andrey N. Spartak, RAS Corresponding member, Head of the Department of International Trade and Foreign Trade of the Russian Federation at the Russian Foreign Trade Academy, discussed Russia’s prospects in the evolving international economic order amid technological transformation and the slowdown of globalization. He drew attention to the risks of global economic fragmentation while underscoring opportunities for Russia to develop joint projects, establish technological alliances, and expand network-based cooperation within BRICS.
Maxim Y. Medvedkov, Adviser to the WTO Expertise Centre, noted BRICS’s considerable potential to strengthen its influence within the multilateral trading system, provided that its member states achieve closer coordination of trade policies and deepen cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union on reform of the World Trade Organisation.
Alexander V. Daniltsev, Director of the Institute of Trade Policy (ITP) at HSE University, presented research findings on the role of BRICS+ in advancing global food security. His analysis suggested that BRICS countries are well-positioned to play a leading role in combating hunger and ensuring food security in the world’s most vulnerable regions.
Ekaterina S. Chimiris, Leading Researcher IE RAS, addressed the strategic importance of rare earth elements for high technologies, artificial intelligence, and the green energy transition. Particular attention was given to China’s dominant position in global supply chains and to the prospects for cooperation among BRICS countries in the domain of strategically important raw materials
The second session, entitled «The EU, BRICS, and Russia: Competition and Windows of Opportunity», opened with a presentation by Alexander V. Kotov, Leading Researcher IE RAS. His report focused on the transformation of EU cluster policy, highlighting the growing role of clusters not only as instruments of regional development but also as mechanisms supporting industrial, innovation, and technology policy, with an emphasis on resilience, competitiveness, and digital transformation.
Dmitry M. Rozental, Director of the Institute of Latin American Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ILA RAS), argued that BRICS influence in Latin America is determined less by formal membership and more by participation in economic and technological cooperation initiatives. According to his assessment, a major obstacle to the expansion of BRICS influence in Latin America is the United States’ policy of containing alternative poles of development.
In his presentation, Mikhail V. Cherekaev, Deputy Director of the Eurasian Economic Commission's Trade Policy Department, examined the Eurasian Economic Union’s (EAEU) cooperation with Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia within existing and prospective free trade agreements. He stressed the importance of maintaining institutional flexibility while further improving mechanisms for collective decision-making.
Anatoly I. Bazhan, Head of the IE RAS Economic Studies Department, analysed developments related to the increasing militarization of the European economy. The expert argued that announced plans to increase defence spending face clear economic constraints, and that exceeding these limits may lead to higher debt burdens and growing social tensions.
Vladislav B. Belov, Deputy Director for Scientific Work, Head of Department of country studies and of Center for German studies IE RAS, analysed the impact of the energy crisis, sanctions policy, and geoeconomic fragmentation on Germany’s economic model. He noted that Germany’s pursuit of technological sovereignty is hindered by inconsistencies in EU-wide economic policy, rising production costs, insufficient investment, and labour shortages.
Sergei A. Roginko, Leading Researcher IE RAS, examined the implications of EU environmental policy, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and new ESG reporting requirements. He emphasized the importance of coordinating positions between Russia and BRICS countries to mitigate associated risks.
The MAEF 2026 Young Scholars Session brought together emerging researchers from leading universities in Moscow and across Russia. The international dimension of the session was reinforced by the participation of Italian scholar F. Maiozzi, who presented a report entitled «Italy and the BRICS: Strategy or Emergency Approach?» Russian participants presented reports covering various aspects of economic, technological, and institutional development in the EU and BRICS, including technological and food sovereignty, entrepreneurial activity, Europe–Asia trade and transport connectivity, and comparative approaches to the energy transition.
