1.1. Evolution of the global integration process

International economic and political integration between regions and subregions came late XX - early XXI century. character defining trends of the global economy in its globalization. However, the aspirations of international economic relations to unite in common efforts to address trade, economic, monetary and other problems have emerged relatively long time and its implementation are then accompanied by international legal provision, the conclusion of bilateral and multilateral agreements that are similar in content to current regional integration agreements.

In the second half HVII century. were common customs union between the provinces of France. Austria had a free trade agreement with neighboring states in the XVIII-XIX centuries. And colonial systems are often formed with the use of such mechanism as preferential trade agreements.

In international trade was a famous medieval Hanseatic League between cities - shopping centers of European countries that played a significant role in the development of maritime trade in the subregion of northern seas. In the second half of the nineteenth century. European countries looking for ways to improve the international monetary relations as the basis of international payments were accompanied by monetary cooperation and coordination efforts to establish a single monetary and exchange rate system. It was on this wave searches are afforded such monetary currency unions, as the Swiss Confederation, Kingdom of Italian, Latin Monetary Union, the Munich Convention, Dresden monetary convention, the German-Austrian Monetary Union, the Scandinavian Monetary Union and others. Finally, in 1867 on the initiative of Britain, Ireland and Portugal - countries with a gold currency and some other European countries in Paris hosted an international monetary conference that launched the international monetary system of gold standard.

In the 30's of XX century. decline in world trade as a result of a major economic depression was attempting to "solve problems ˮ thanks to the regional preferences. However, the desired results on the global recovery attempts did not succeed.

After the Second World War, a fundamental principle of world trade is equality between the partners - the principle of non-discrimination. With this principle in 1947 created the Benelux Customs Union, in 1951 the European Coal and Steel Community, and in 1957 - European Economic Community. Integration groupings socialist countries - the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance - CMEA, established 1947, based on other, far from democratic, principles.

In the 60's and 70's of the twentieth century. emerging integration groupings of Latin America, Asia and Africa. However, regional integration agreements that period between post-colonial states of development were imperfect, their level of implementation - low and Integral Cooperation - inefficient.

In the 80's of the twentieth century. political changes occurring in their views on regional integration, especially in international trade. Significant role played in this example the displacement of the effective consolidation of the European Union. Distribution Program of the common market to neighboring countries are not EU members, Europe Agreements with the post-socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe and post-Soviet Baltic states, the expansion in 1995 and, finally, the expansion 2004, 2007 - all of which significantly influenced the process, potentially directed the conclusion of regional integration agreements in Europe and other continents.

In North America, Canadian-American integration agreement in 1988 covered the 1994 in Mexico by the trilateral agreement on the North American Free Trade - NAFTA. In Latin America in 1991 founded the Southern Cone Common Market MERCOSUR; 1995 created "Group three ˮ - G-3 (Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela) in 1991 and 1993 revived the integration association, respectively, the Andean Pact and Central America share market.

On the Asian continent group the Association of Southeast Asia after 25 years of political cooperation between regional integration have concluded free trade agreement, establishing a free trade zone - AFTA. This integration has strengthened confidence in the subregion: AFTA show interest in China, South Korea, Japan. On the African continent show activity Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, South African Development Community, East African Cooperation, a group of the Maghreb in North-East Africa.

Activation process of regional economic and political integration has become a kind of a defining feature of the globalized system of economic links late XX - early XXI centuries.