EEC Council Decisions aim to improve the resilience of the economies of the EAEU countries and strengthen the positions of the Union in the external market

On August 21, a regular session of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission was held in Moscow. The event was attended by the Members of the EEC Council: Vice Prime Minister, Minister of International Economic Integration and Reforms of the Republic of Armenia Vache Gabrielyan, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Vasily Matyushevsky, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Vice Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Valery Dil, First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Igor Shuvalov, and Members of the Board - Ministers of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

The EEC Council addressed a number of important issues in the fields of macroeconomics, trade, economic and financial policy, technical regulation, energy and infrastructure.

In particular, the EEC Council put more focus on trade cooperation with third countries. The session discussed the issue of further development of the cooperation with the State of Israel, including possible negotiations on the free trade zone (FTZ) with the Eurasian Economic Council (the EAEU). The EEC Council adopted a decision on the development of trade and economic relations with the Republic of Korea and on the development of trade and economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, including setting up a group for the feasibility study of future entrance into a FTZ. The EEC also approved the Action Plan for the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between the EAEU and Vietnam.

The meeting handled the issue of the Procedure for Accession of New Members to the Eurasian Economic Union and Termination of Membership in the EAEU. The document aims to improve the Union's contractual legal framework. The issue will be put to a session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

Participants of the session discussed in detail the approaches to ensure financial stability and economic growth in the EAEU, the deepening of cooperation of the Member States of the Union in the spheres of macroeconomic and monetary policies. A session on this issue is scheduled to be held soon with the participation of heads of the Ministries of Economy and Finance, Central (National) Banks of the EAEU Member States, as well as the Eurasian Economic Commission.

The EEC Council adopted a decision on cancellation of sanitary-quarantine and phytosanitary quarantine control (supervision) in the Kyrgyz-Kazakh section of the State Border.

​The EEC Council approved the Recommendations on the content and standard structure of the technical regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union. The document contains a list of sections of the technical regulations of the Union and recommendations on their content and proposes various wordings that may be used by the drafters taking into account the specifics of certain types of products.

At the EEC Council's meeting it was decided to instruct the Commission's Working Group for the preparation of proposals for the further application of the principle of exhaustion of intellectual property exclusive rights by December 31 this year, to develop a decision-making mechanism for possible "parallel" imports for certain categories of products, i.e. criteria for selection of certain types of goods that are planned to be subject to the international principle of exclusive right exhaustion, to draft amendments to the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) dated May 29, 2014, and to determine the level of decision-making on introduction of "parallel" imports.

These amendments provide for possible exemptions from the regional principle of exhaustion of the exclusive right to trademarks and trademarks of the Eurasian Economic Union in respect of certain types of goods. This means a possibility of "parallel" imports of certain categories of goods (i.e. importation of a given product without obtaining a permit for it from the right holders).

The amendments will be incorporated into the Protocol on the Security and Protection of Intellectual Property Rights annexed to the Treaty on the EAEU. The procedure for drafting and amending international treaties is formalised and provides for reviewing drafts by the Board of the Commissions, the Council of the Commission, as well as standard internal procedures within the Union's Member States.

The Working Group is expected to prepare, by December 31 this year, proposals on the procedure and selection criteria for certain types of goods that are planned to be subject to the international principle of exclusive right exhaustion. Proposals will be made in respect of the priority group of goods and the period of their circulation in the market in accordance with the international principle of exclusive right exhaustion. The Working Group will present the results of its work to a meeting of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Currently, the Treaty on the EAEU provides for the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union a regional principle of exhaustion of the exclusive right to a trademark whereby the use of a trademark in respect of goods is lawful only in the event of putting such goods into circulation on the territory of the Member States of the Union directly by the right owner or by other persons upon the right holder's consent.

Given the priority of international treaties over national legislation, the Member States of the Union have no legal opportunity to introduce and apply on their territories any other principle of right exhaustion other than that which is provided for by the Treaty on the Union even in the form of a "pilot" project in certain sectors.

Reference:

The Working Group for the development of proposals on further application of the principle of exhaustion of the exclusive right to intellectual property was established by Decision No. 45 of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission dated June 23, 2014.

The Working Group which is set up based on the proposals of the governments of the Member States of the Union is comprised of officials of the authorised authorities of the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation, experts from the most important business areas, as well as employees of the Commission.

As at the current date, the Working Group has held 3 meetings which discussed legal, economic and social aspects related to the selection of the principle of right exhaustion.

The Working Group has explored the following options for further application of the rule of right exhaustion:

- to preserve the regional rule of right exhaustion and introduce into the law of the Union the possibility to apply exemptions for certain categories of goods;

- to preserve the regional rule of right exhaustion without amendments;

- to replace the regional rule of right exhaustion with the international-exhaustion rule;

- to replace the regional rule of right exhaustion with the international-exhaustion rule with a possibility to apply certain exemptions.

Kyrgyzstan acceded to the Eurasian Economic Union

On August 12, the Treaty on the Accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union (the EAEU) came into force. Kyrgystan has become a full-fledged member of the Union along with Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.

Accession of Kyrgyzstan to the EAEU was preceded by major joint efforts to ensure integration and convergence. In 2014, the road maps for accession of Kyrgyzstan to the Eurasian integration project, which would facilitate the adaptation of its national economy to the EAEU legislation and practices, have been implemented.

In particular, a whole set of issues on renovation of customs infrastructure facilities has been resolved.

On December 23, 2014, the Treaty on accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the EAEU was signed at the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (the SEEC). On May 8, 2015, at the session of the SEEC, the heads of the EAEU Member States endorsed two protocols where the terms and conditions, as well as specific features of the accession of Kyrgyzstan to the EAEU were defined.

The Union Member States complied with all the internal legal procedures to ensure that the Treaty becomes effective.

The accession to the EAEU opened up new opportunities for Kyrgyzstan. No more barriers to the free movements of goods, services, capital and workforce. The new investment opportunities and prospects to develop major infrastructure projects, primarily in the energy industry, transportation and agriculture, are opened up. The citizens of Kyrgyzstan now gain the right to be employed in any state of the Union on equal terms with citizens of their employment state.

The accession of Kyrgyzstan gives a new impetus to develop the Union's potential. The integration association consolidates its position in the global economic architecture.

Parliaments of the Member States of the Eurasian Economic Union completed the ratification of the Treaty on Accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the EAEU

On July 8 and 9, the Treaty on Accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Eurasian Economic Union was reviewed and approved by the Council of the Federation of the Russian Federation and the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan.

Earlier, on June 30, the document was also adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus. On June 16 it was adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.

"The most important step was the ratification of the Treaty on Accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the EAEU by the parliaments of the all the five countries. The biggest threat that the accession of Kyrgyzstan to the EAEU could be shifted to the autumn is left behind. All the parliaments have expressed their will. And there are no justified obstacles to the accession of Kyrgyzstan to the EAEU,"- the Minister of Economy of the Kyrgyz Republic Oleg Pankratov said.

The actual accession of Kyrgyzstan to the integration association will happen only after signing by the Presidents of the Member States of the EAEU the laws on the ratification of the Treaty on Accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Eurasian Union. According to the procedure, the ratified documents will be submitted for signature to the Presidents of the EAEU Member States. After signing the documents through diplomatic channels will be sent to the depositary of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

We would like to remind that, on May 8, at the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, two Protocols determining peculiarities of a transit period for Kyrgyzstan during accession to the EAEU were signed. Earlier, on December 23, 2014, in Moscow, the Presidents of the Republic of Belarus, Republic of Kazakhstan and Russian Federation, on the one part, and the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, on the other part, signed the Treaty on accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the EAEU.

Agreement on Free Trade Zone between the EAEU and Socialist Republic of Vietnam signed according to the results of the second session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council

On May 29, in Burabay village (Kazakhstan), the second session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council took place. The summit was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Ovik Abraamyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Andrey Kobyakov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Temir Sariyev, and Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Viktor Khristenko.

According to the results of the session, the Agreement on the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), its Member States and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was signed. The Agreement is the first international document on FTZ between the EAEU and a third party. As the Chairman of the EEC Board Viktor Khristenko noted in his statement to the press following the session, signing of the Agreement on the Free Trade Zone between the EAEU, its Member States and Vietnam is a "historic act".

Viktor Khristenko reported that the Agreement would ensure free trade regime in respect of over 90 % of commodity items regulated by the EEC. "Moreover, zeroing of the duty, exemption regime of admission to the markets in respect of a half of these commodity items shall take place since the entry into force of the Agreement, and after a short transition period in respect of the other half of commodity items," reported the Chairman of the EEC Board Viktor Khristenko. As the EEC representative emphasized, "implementation of the Agreement in general is aimed at increasing the current volume of trade turnover between the EAEU states and Vietnam that amounts to 4 billion dollars up to at least 10 billion dollars by 2020."

According to him, the Agreement covers not only preferential trade treatment, but also issues of the management of intellectual property rights, and a whole range of other areas.

Viktor Khristenko noted that this Agreement opened an area of work not only with the entire Republic, but "with Vietnam as a regional centre, a greater region of ASEAN that has more than 600 million citizens. Therefore, the entry into force of this Agreement will allow participants of the economic life of the EAEU to enter new markets and obtain mutual benefits," he concluded.

A wide range of integration issues concerning functioning of the Eurasian Economic Union, development of the regulatory framework, and implementation of a number of specific cooperation projects were discussed at the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council.

In particular, the draft decision of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council "On the main areas of the economic development of the Eurasian Economic Union" was approved. The draft document identifies nine areas, which determine the competitiveness of the Member States of the Union and integration cooperation in which is appropriate. Since the areas are formed on the horizontal principle, their implementation will be carried out through the development and implementation of system-wide as well as industry-specific and sectoral integration measures and actions that will be reflected in the medium and short-term documents provided for by the Treaty on the EAEU. In addition, the draft document introduces scenarios of the Union's economic development, potential effects of integration till 2030, the criteria on the basis of which the Commission and the Member States will prepare proposals on the definition of areas of the economy that have potential for integration, as well as measures to use this potential on a regular basis.

Analysis of the reasons for changing dynamics of mutual trade of the Customs Union (CU) and the Common Economic Space (CES) Member States conducted by the Commission, as well as proposals on increasing the volume of mutual trade turnover were also introduced at the session. Establishment of the dialogue on strengthening cooperation in the areas of coordinated policy stipulated by the Treaty on the EAEU is crucial. Business community requests creation of an attractive business and investment climate in the Union, which is possible by removing barriers and minimizing exemptions and restrictions.

In addition, the Disposition on deepening cooperation between the EAEU Member States in the fields of macroeconomic, monetary and financial policy was adopted, under which the Commission jointly with governments, national (central) banks of the EAEU Member States must prepare a report on integration measures to increase sustainability of the States' economy in the Union.

In the course of the session, the Disposition on development of the Regulation on establishment and functioning of the Eurasian Technology Platforms (ETP) was approved. The Regulation on ETP will ensure a clear step by step algorithm of building mutually beneficial cooperation of the EAEU States in the field of innovations.

The Action Plan to ensure stimulation of production and application of motor vehicles with electric engines in the EAEU Member States for 2015-2017 was supported at the session. Implementation of the Action Plan will contribute to the increase of demand for electric vehicles by citizens of the Union States.

Decisions taken by the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in production of vehicles and equipment for the agricultural industry will allow moving to practical establishment of cooperative chains and development of import substitution of components for agricultural machinery produced on the territory of the Union, increasing the added value, and providing national access to government (municipal) procurement of the agricultural machinery. In addition, it is expected that the practical mechanism for the support of agricultural machinery export to the third countries markets, as well as the legal framework for enhancing cooperation in agricultural machinery engineering in the framework of the Union, will be created.

The EEC approved the Action Plan on development of the light industry of the EAEU Member States for 2015 - 2016 at the session. The document contains a range of measures aimed at creating conditions for increasing investment attractiveness and competitiveness of the industry. Their implementation will allow transferring to practical establishment of cooperative chains and development of import substitution for several segments of the light industry, and mastering new technologies.

Documents signed following the results of the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council

- On the reasons for changing dynamics of mutual trade of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space Member States in 2010-2014, and proposals on increasing the volume of mutual trade turnover in the Eurasian Economic Union Member States.

- On activities to discover and eliminate the barriers for mutual access, which prevent the operation of the Eurasian Economic Union domestic market, and exemptions and restrictions with respect to the circulation of goods, services, capital and workforce.

- On the Draft Decision of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council "On the main areas of the economic development of the Eurasian Economic Union".

- On deepening cooperation between the Union Member States in macroeconomic, monetary and financial policy.

- On the Free Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union, its Member States of the one part, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam of the other part.

- On the Agreement on the movement of ozone-depleting substances and products containing them, and recording of ozone-depleting substances while implementing mutual trade of the Eurasian Economic Union Member States.

- On the Action Plan on development of the light industry of the EAEU Member States for 2015 - 2016.

- On creating conditions for the development of machinery and equipment production for the agricultural industry in the Eurasian Economic Union Member States.

Session of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission has taken place

On May 28, a range of issues of key importance for deepening Eurasian Economic integration was discussed on a session of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission in Astana.

The event was attended by the Members of the EEC Council - First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Vasiliy Matyushevskiy, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev, First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Igor Shuvalov, Vice Prime Minister, Minister of International Economic Integration and Reforms of the Republic of Armenia Vache Gabrielyan, Chairman of the EEC Board Victor Khristenko, and the EEC Board Members.

The Members of the EEC Council considered a range of issues concerning economy and financial policy, trade, development of integration and macroeconomy as well as industry.

In particular, the Decision of the EEC Council on creation of Working Party for ensuring operation of the Common Market of Services under the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was adopted. The Regulation on the Working Party and its structure was approved. The WP is formed from the representatives of the line state authorities of the Member States and officials of the Commission, according to proposals of the Republic of Armenia, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Kazakhstan and Russian Federation.

The Working Party headed by the Member of the Board – Minister in charge of Economy and Financial Policy Timur Suleymenov will prepare proposals for the Commission Member States, aimed at ensuring operation of the Common Market of Services within the Union. Its decisions will have the status of a recommendation.

President of the Kyrgyz Republic has ratified the Treaty on Accession of Kyrgyzstan to EAEU

On May 21, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev signed the law "On Ratification of International Treaties on Accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union."

Earlier, on May 20, the Zhogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic (Parliament) approved the ratification of the Treaty on accession of Kyrgyzstan to the EAEU.

In his speech, Almazbek Atambayev declared that the country had entered a new stage of its development. Kyrgyzstan had good prospects, but this direction would not be easy, noted the President. He also added, that the Republic should make every effort to rebuild the economy in the shortest possible time and to give it a strong push for dynamic development.

We would like to remind that, on May 8, at the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, two Protocols determining peculiarities of a transit period for Kyrgyzstan during accession to the EAEU were signed. Earlier, on December 23, 2014, in Moscow, the Presidents of the Republic of Belarus, Republic of Kazakhstan and Russian Federation, on the one part, and the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, on the other part, signed the Treaty on accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the EAEU.

The Treaty on the EAEU is a basic document specifying agreements of the Russian Federation, Republic of Belarus and Republic of Kazakhstan on creation of the Eurasian Economic Union in order to eliminate barriers for free movement of goods, services, capital and workforce, to perform coordinated, agreed or uniform policy in the key sectors of economy.

The Treaty on the EAEU was signed by the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on May 29, 2014 in Astana. On January 2, 2015 the Republic of Armenia joined the Treaty.

Documents on Kyrgyzstan accession to EAEU are signed

On May 08, the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC) was held in Moscow. The summit was attended by the leaders of the Member States of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) – President of the Republic of Armenia Serj Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev, and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, as well as President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambaev. The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) was represented by the Chairman of the EEC Board Victor Khristenko.

One of the major outcomes was signing of a range of documents under the Kyrgyzstan accession to the EAEU. In particular, two Protocols determining the features of a transitional period for Kyrgyzstan during accession to the EAEU were signed. Earlier on December 23, 2014, the Presidents of the Republic of Belarus, Republic of Kazakhstan and Russian Federation, on the one part, and the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, on the other part, signed the Treaty on the accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the EAEU.

As the Chairman of the EEC Board Victor Khristenko said, "all package of documents signed today will be sent for ratification to the EAEU Member States and, in the nearest future, Kyrgyzstan will become a full-fledged member of the Union." Victor Khristenko stated that during the summit, the Presidents of the EAEU Member States expressed a common wish "not to delay the ratification procedures." "It is possible to implement this before the height of summer," - he said.

During the session, the Heads of the States considered issues of customs cooperation, functioning of the EAEU Court, as well as the process of forming the common electric power market that will start operating by 2019.

As the Chairman of the EEC Board said, the electric energy sphere acts as "a pioneer"within the Eurasian integration. "The stages of the creation, goals etc. were elaborated in the concept of forming the common electric power market,"said Victor Khristenko.

The Presidents of the EAEU States also made a decision on the start of negotiations to conclude an agreement with China on trade and economic cooperation.

PROTOCOLS

1. Protocol on introducing amending the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union dated May 29, 2014, and separate international treaties included in the law of the Eurasian Economic Union in connection with the accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union dated May 29, 2014.

2. Protocol on terms and transitional provisions on the application of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union dated May 29, 2014, by the Kyrgyz Republic, and separate international treaties included in the law of the Eurasian Economic Union and acts of the Eurasian Economic Union authorities in connection with the accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union dated May 29, 2014.

3. Protocol on Accession of the Republic of Armenia to the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union dated May 29, 2014.

DECISIONS:

1. Decision "On abolishment of customs control in respect of goods and vehicles moved across the Kyrgyz - Kazakh section of the state border."

2. Decision "On abolishment of sanitary-quarantine, veterinary-sanitary and quarantine phytosanitary control (supervision) on the Kyrgyz - Kazakh section of the state border."

3. Decision "On amending the total staff numbers and structure of the Court of the Eurasian Economic Union."

4. Decision "On the candidates to members of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission from the Kyrgyz Republic."

5. Decision "On introducing amendments to Article 1 of Decision No. 79 of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council dated October 10, 2014."

6. Decision "On the annual report on the implementation of the budget of the Eurasian Economic Commission for 2014."

7. Decision "On the key points of the macroeconomic policy of the Member States of the Eurasian Economic Union for 2015 - 2016."

8. Decision "On the Concept of forming the common electric power market of the Eurasian Economic Union."

9. Decision "On the Program of stage-by-stage liberalization of road transportation of cargo between the points located on the territory of one of the Member State of the Eurasian Economic Union by the carriers registered on the territory of other Member States of the Eurasian Economic Union for the period from 2016 to 2025."

10. Decision "On the Free Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and its Member States, on the one part, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on the other part."

11. Decision "On the start of negotiations to conclude an agreement with the People’s Republic of China on trade and economic cooperation."

12. Decision "On the list of sensitive goods the decision to change import customs duties for which is made by the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission."

13. Decision "On introducing amendments to the list of sectors (sub-sectors) of services under which the common services market within the Eurasian Economic Union functions."

14. Decision "On introducing amendments to Decision No. 112 of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council dated December 23, 2014."

15. Decision "On the plan of measures to implement the Major Directions of development of the "single window" mechanism in the system of foreign economic activities regulation."

16. Decision "On awarding a medal "For contribution in building the Eurasian Economic Union."

DISPOSITIONS

1. Disposition "On the Results of Implementation of the Agreement on the Common Principles and Rules of Activities Regulation of Natural Monopoly Entities dated December 9, 2010."

2. Disposition "On time and place of the next session of the Supreme Council."

Congratulations on the Victory Day!

Dear colleagues, friends!

May 09, 1945 is a great date in the history of the States of the Eurasian Economic Union. Their citizens will never forget an outstanding feat of arms and labour of their grandparents and great-grandparents who secured a historic Victory over a violent aggressor – German fascism – 70 years ago.

For many decades, this Victory has become a bright symbol of resilience and courage of our people, ability to withstand together hardships and tribulations, to rebuff enemies. This is our Victory! It embodies sweat and blood of Armenians, Belarusians, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and Russians, representatives of many other nations. This is a tragedy of loss and happiness of a great survival of millions of families living on the Eurasian territory. This immortal Victory is like the Eternal Flame that symbolizes non-fading power and living faith in further joint successes under our new integration union.

We sincerely wish health and peaceful skies to our dearest veterans who forged Victory on the front lines and in the rear, their descendants who remember and praise heroic deed of their ancestors, to all citizens of the Member States of the Eurasian Economic Union. Happy Victory Day!

In Astana the Presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia discussed the development of the Eurasian integration processes

On the 20^th of March a trilateral meeting of the President of Belarus, Aleksander Lukashenko, the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, was held in Astana. The Heads of the State inter alia discussed the development of the Eurasian integration processes in view of the impact of the current trends in the global economy.

While opening the meeting Nursultan Nazarbayev noted the importance of that meeting for the discussion of the current situation in the world in the context of the crisis consequences. "The crisis of 2007-2009 was of a global nature, while the current one has a regional direction and has been caused by reduction of prices for energy carriers and our goods. We anticipated that such risks would occur, and now our task is to develop joint measures and to come through this period successfully," said the President of Kazakhstan.

Aleksander Lukashenko turned attention to the fact that new challenges occur every year. In his opinion, the time proves that the EAEU has been created at a good hour. "Moreover, this is not merely a declaration - we have adopted a lot of documents and formalized it by signing a number of treaties. And within our Union we must respond to these challenges," said the President of Belarus.

Vladimir Putin in his turn noted that the development of the real sector of economy - industry and agriculture, as well as employment stimulation are of paramount importance for the EAEU States. He underlined that the parties agreed to continue the coordination of the monetary policy. "We think that the time has come for us to discuss a possibility of creation of a monetary union in perspective. While working shoulder to shoulder it is easier to react to external financial and economic threats and to protect our common market", underlined Vladimir Putin.

In the end of the meeting the President of Kazakhstan emphasized the importance of active and regular meetings for "synchronization of watches" and discussion of promising courses of cooperation between the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union.

The President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin had talks with Almazbek Atambayev, the President of Kyrgyzstan, to discuss issues of the republic's Eurasian integration

On March 16, a meeting between the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Almazbek Atambayev, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, was held in Saint-Petersburg. The heads of the states, among other issues, discussed matters of bilateral cooperation as well as the prospects of Kyrgyzstan's joining the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Opening the session, the Russian President stressed that he is glad to welcome the Kyrgyz leader in Saint-Petersburg. 'Naturally, we cannot leave out the developments in the integration processes and where we stand from viewpoint of the agreements on gradual accession of Kyrgyzstan to the Union', said Vladimir Putin in his statement.

The Russian leader also stressed that the ultimate goal of the integration processes is that the Kyrgyz economy should be adjusted to the economies of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. In Vladimir Putin's opinion, 'these are, unconditionally, the tasks that can be solved'.

In his turn, the head of Kyrgyzstan, speaking of the republic's accession to the EAEU, mentioned that Bishkek's intention is to become a full-fledged EAEU member prior to May 9. 'Of course we would like to fulfil it by May 9. As you can recall, we set the date before. We have people, the veterans of war, who remember as there were no customs borders and therefore this meeting is a good occasion to discuss the matters that have built up', said Almazbek Atambayev.

Here is to remind that an Agreement on the accession of Kyrgyzstan to the EAEU Treaty was signed on December 23.

The first meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council discussed long-term approaches to the development of economic and trade cooperation with EAEU main partners

On February 6, the first session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council was held in Moscow. The summit was attended by Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Ovik Abraamyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Andrei Kobyakov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakstan Karim Masimov, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Djoomart Otorbaev and Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Viktor Khristenko.

The Session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council discussed a wide range of integration issues related to the functioning of the Eurasian Economic Union, development of regulatory legal base and implementation of a series of specific cooperation projects. In particular, it considered plans to increase mutual turnover among EAEU Member-States, deepen cooperation in macroeconomy and financial policies, introduce labels for specific goods and establish the Eurasian Engineering Machine Tool Engineering Center.

The Eurasian Intergovernmental Council instructed the Governments of EAEU Member-States together with the EEC and in cooperation with central (national) banks to review the expediency of deepening the cooperation between Member States in the field of macroeconomic and currency and financial policies and report their proposals at the next meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council. Furthermore, the EEC is ordered to analyze the causes of changes in the dynamics of mutual trade among Member States of the Customs Union (the CU) and the Single Economic Space (the SES) in 2010 - 2014 and to submit proposals to build up mutual turnover among EAEU Member-States in the first half of 2015.

The respective protocols to the Agreement on the Accession of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan to the EAEU are prepared. The Protocols are planned to be signed by the President of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan at the beginning of this March. As the EEC Board Chairman Viktor Khristenko stressed, "in this sense, it is enormous work related not only to the legal preparation but also to the goals to be achieved by Kyrgyzstan on its own territory with the help of the Agreement Member States." Thus, Kyrgyzstan may become a full member of the Union in the near future.

Key topics in the agenda also included long-term approaches to the development of economic and trade cooperation with EAEU main partners.

Address by the Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko to the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union

On January 1, 2015 assumed the chairmanship in the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, Eurasian Intergovernmental Council and Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Our state considers the Eurasian Economic Union as the major integration association that promotes economic and social stability in the region. We welcome the consistent increase in number of participants of the Eurasian integration, we support the open and equitable dialogue of the EAEU with other countries, international organizations and international integration associations.

The chairmanship of the Republic of Belarus in the Eurasian Economic Union will be committed to further strengthening of neighbourliness, development of economic cooperation, promotion of four fundamental economic freedoms of the Union: the free movements of goods, services, capital and labour.

At all stages of preparing the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union, the Belarus party consistently declared the need of maximum liberalisation of the conditions for economic activity under the EAEU. We still believe that the Eurasian Economic Union shall be founded on complete elimination of exemptions and restrictions in the movements of goods.

We propose the following:

- to take measures for the soonest possible transition to the concerted, and in future to the common industrial and agricultural policy, for the development of industrial cooperation, for the implementation of joint investment projects both within the Union and beyond;

- to accelerate development and approval of the main areas of industrial cooperation within the Union;

- to ensure that the common markets of pharmaceutical and medical products unconditionally start operating from January 1, 2016;

- to start practical implementation of the Treaty provisions that provide for joint development of export.

We pay utmost attention to the development of concepts to shape the common markets of electric energy, gas, oil and oil products.

The specific measures to develop the integration processes in the service area will be taken during the chairmanship of Belarus. Our common objective is consistent elimination of restrictions and exemption with further development of single markets in as many areas as possible, including in construction and transportation. We believe that the development of a common market of transport services, including the development of programme for phased liberalization of cabotage transportation, is one of the major components of competitiveness of our products both on internal and foreign markets.

The customs tariff and non-tariff protection of the common customs space is of vital importance. In view of above we expect our partners to be open in their dialogue with the WTO.

We propose to develop efficient mechanisms that would enable the Eurasian Economic Union to operate in the context of unilateral measures taken by one of the member states to protect the market from the third parties. The special attention shall be paid to coordinating the cooperation in taking the sanitary, veterinary and phytosanitary measures, in protecting the consumers' rights.

The preparation of an international treaty on the principles and approaches to alignment of the legislation systems of member states regulating the state control over compliance with the technical regulations requirements, is also of key importance.

The problems of capital movements are important. During one year we shall end up signing an international treaty on concerted approaches to regulating the currency legal relations and taking liberalization measures.

We plan to actively contribute to increasing the effectiveness of the Eurasian Economic Commission operations including rapid responding to external and internal challenges, supervising execution of the decisions taken by the Union.

We will ensure the required cooperation in organizing full-scale functioning of the EAEU Court, strengthening the importance of law in the Eurasian Economic Union space.

I truly hope that the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union will support us in practical implementation of the Belarussian initiatives.

I believe that our close cooperation will be a guarantee of the most effective implementation of the set plans and successful establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union as an independent centre of sustained economic development.

The Chairman of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council

A.G. Lukashenko

Armenia is now in the Eurasian Economic Union

January 2, the Treaty on Armenia's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) came into force. Armenia became the fourth full-fledged Member-State of the Eurasian Economic Union together with Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.

By this Treaty Armenia has made a part of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union, signed by the Presidents of the EAEU Member-States - Alexander Lukashenko, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Vladimir Putin on May 29, 2014 in Astana, as well as other international treaties forming the EAEU legal framework. From now on, Armenia undertakes corresponding obligations, and therewith gets access to the EAEU single market with 170 million citizens.

By joining the Eurasian Economic Union, the state gets fully involved into implementation of the Eurasian project aimed, on the one hand, at forming of four freedoms: free movement of goods, services, capital and labour force. On the other hand, - at creation of one of the key economic centers of evolving architecture of the multipolar world.

The fourth partner expects a number of positive effects form integration. Among the key ones there are an increase of goods turnover due to elimination of barriers and minimization of administrative expenses, increase of mobility of labour force due to introduction to the single labour market, increase of stability of economic development due to reduction of economic isolation effect, development of infrastructure projects, participation in drawing up of the agenda using the mechanisms of the Eurasian Economic Union.

The Treaty on accession provides for full involvement of Armenia’s representatives into the activities of the EAEU governance. Upon entry of the Treaty into force the President of Armenia becomes a full-fledged Member of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, and the Prime Minister becomes a Member of Intergovernmental Council; the full-fledged representative joins the Eurasian Economic Commission. Armenia will be represented by three Board Members in the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission, as wells as other EAEU Member-States.

For reference:

April 10, 2013 the Chairman of the EEC Board Viktor Khristenko and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Sarkisyan signed the Memorandum on cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Government of the Republic of Armenia. The document laid the basis for cooperation between the Parties by providing consultations, conducting conferences and seminars, preparing of analytical reviews on issues of mutual interest, conducting meetings of the Eurasian Economic Commission management with the Armenian Party. At the same time, over a period of several years, the Republic of Armenia has been engaged in an active dialogue with the European Union within the frameworks of the “Eastern Partnership” program, aimed at conclusion of the European Union Association Agreement.

September 3, 2013 the Republic of Armenia issued a declaration of intent to join the Customs Union (CU) and Single Economic Space (SES). October 24, 2013, during the panel session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Minsk the Presidents of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation considered the application of the Republic of Armenia and instructed the Eurasian Economic Commission to initiate the procedure on accession.

The Working Group created based on Decision of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council “On accession of the Republic of Armenia to the Customs Union and Single Economic Space of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation” dated October 24, 2013 No. 49 with participation of the representatives of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Armenia and the Eurasian Economic Commission, chaired by the Member of the Board – Minister in charge of the Development of Integration and Macroeconomics of the Eurasian Economic Commission Tatiana Valovaya developed the relevant “road map”.

November 6, 2013, in Erevan the Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Viktor Khristenko and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Sarkisyan signed a Memorandum on strengthened cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Republic of Armenia, the project thereof was preliminary approved by Decision of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council at the highest level on October 24, 2013 No. 49. In accordance with the Memorandum the Republic of Armenia shall have the right to participate in the sessions of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the Council and the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission, as well as the right to appoint a representative of the Republic of Armenia to the Eurasian Economic Commission. The Memorandum also provides for the possibility to establish information exchange between the Parties. This Memorandum was prepared and adopted in furtherance of the Memorandum on cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Government of the Republic of Armenia dated April 10, 2013.

December 24, 2013 in Minsk the Presidents of the Member-States of the Customs Union and Single Economic Space approved the “road map” for accession of the Republic of Armenia to the Eurasian integration association. The Heads of the Member-States of the Customs Union and Armenia accepted the Application “On participation of the Republic of Armenia in the Eurasian integration process”, that welcomed the intention of the Republic of Armenia to join the Customs Union and Single Economic Space.

All the measures that had to be taken prior to the accession have been taken. In the course of cooperation Armenia demonstrated a laudable interest and activity. In accordance with the “road map”, the Republic of Armenia had to take 126 measures out of 267 “prior to accession”. All of them have been taken. Certain provisions relating to the implementation of these items are included in the Treaty on Accession. Within the frameworks of the accession procedure the experts of the Eurasian Economic Commission made more than 40 visits to the Republic of Armenia.

In general, the implementation of the "road map" for the Republic of Armenia is the harmonization of national legislation with the contractual and legal framework of the Eurasian Economic

The treaty on the Eurasian Economic Enion is coming into force

January 1, the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is coming into force. The Treaty confirms the creation of an economic union that provides for free movement of goods, services, capital and labor and pursues coordinated, harmonized and single policy in the sectors determined by the document and international agreements within the Union.

The Treaty on the EAEU was signed by the Presidents of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation on May 29, 2014, in Astana. Apart from the three states, the Union members will also include the Republic of Armenia that signed Treaty on Accession to the Union on October 10, 2014 and the Kyrgyz Republic that signed similar Treaty on December 23, 2014.

The Eurasian Economic Union is an international organization for regional economic integration. It has international legal personality.

The Union is to create an environment for a stable development of the Member-States' economies in order to raise the living standards of their population, as well as to comprehensively upgrade and raise the competitiveness of and cooperation between the national economies in the conditions of the global economy.

The EAEU operates within the competence granted by the Member-States subject to the Treaty on the Union, based on the respect to the established principles of international law, including the principles of Member-States' sovereign equality and territorial integrity; based on the respect to the specifics of the Member-States' political order; based on the promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation, equal rights and the Parties' national interests; based on application of the principles of market economy and fair competition.

Governance of the Union is entrusted to the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC) comprised of the Heads of the Member-States. The SEEC sessions are held at least once a year. The SEEC structure is formed by the Intergovernmental Council at the level of the Heads of the Governments, the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Court of the Union.

For reference:

Union bodies: 
The Supreme Council is the EAEU's supreme authority composed by the Presidents of the Union's Member-States.

The Intergovernmental Council is a Union body in charge of strategically important issues of the development of the Eurasian economic integration remained with no consensus when discussed in the Commission Council.

The Court of the EAEU is the Union's court of justice that ensures that the Member-States and the Union's bodies uniformly implement the Treaty on the EAEU and other international agreements within the Union.

The Eurasian Economic Commission is the Union's permanent supranational regulatory body formed by the Commission Council and Commission Board. The Commission's key tasks are to create environment for the Union's operation and development, as well as develop proposals for economic integration within the EAEU.

The Commission Council includes the Prime-Ministers of the Union's Member-States.

The EEC Board is comprised of its Chairman and Ministers.

Key functional novelties of the Treaty on the EAEU as compared to the stages of the CU and SES:

The Treaty on the EAEU secured the Member-States' agreement to pursue a coordinated energy policy and form common energy markets (electric energy, gas, oil and oil products) based on common principles. The document contemplates that such task will be implemented in several stages and completed by 2025: formation of single market of electric power is planned to be completed by 2019, and single market of hydrocarbons—by 2025.

The Treaty on the EAEU determines regulatory treatment of the turnover of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. By January 1, 2016, single market of pharmaceuticals and single market of medical devices (devices for medical purposes and medical equipment) will be created within the Union.

The Treaty establishes new long-term priorities of transport policy in the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union. The parties agreed on a step-by-step liberalization of transport carriages in the territory of the will-be Union, which pertains primarily to motor and railroad transport.

An agreement has been reached on the formation and implementation of a coordinated agricultural policy. It is not insignificant that policies in other areas of integration interaction, including application of sanitary, phytosanitary and veterinary measures to agricultural products, will be pursued in view of the goals, tasks and areas of the coordinated agricultural policy.

The Eurasian Economic Union operation would be unimaginable unless a coordinated macroeconomic policy were pursued, which provides for development and implementation of the Union Member-States' joint activities to achieve a balanced economic development. Subject to the Treaty, key areas of the coordinated macroeconomic policy include formation of single principles of the Union Member-States operation, their efficient interaction and development of common principles and benchmarks to predict the Parties' social and economic development.

To ensure coordinated regulation of financial markets, based on a step-by-step harmonization of the legislations, the EAEU Member-States agreed to establish by 2025 a single supranational body for financial market regulation.

The Treaty on the EAEU presupposes that, as of January 1, 2015, single services market will start operating in a number of sectors determined by the Union Member-States. National treatment will be the basis, i.e. the state will have to adopt full-fledged national treatment of service providers and partner-countries—there can be no restrictions. Later on, the Parties will seek to expand the sectors as much as possible. In particular, by way of a step-by-step reduction of deletions and restrictions, which will undoubtedly strengthen the Eurasian integration project.

Subject to the Treaty on the EAEU, the single services market within the Union shall operate in the sectors approved by the Supreme Council based on the coordinated proposals from the Member-States and the Commission. Based on the Treaty, Decision of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council dated December 23, 2014 confirmed the lists of services sectors wherein the single market will start operating as of January 1, 2015. At the moment, following the proposals of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, the list of services may include over 40 services sectors (construction services, wholesale/retail trade services, agricultural services, including sowing, processing and crop harvesting, etc.). The list of sectors wherein the rules of the single services market should be followed is subject to a step-by-step and coordinated expansion. In the services sectors where the single services market does not operate, providers and receivers of services are subject to national treatment and most favored nation treatment, and no quantitative or investment restrictions shall be applied thereto.

As of January 1, 2015, single labor market will start operating in the territories of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia; the freedom of movement of labor will be exercised. The citizens of these states will work in equal conditions: workers from the EAEU Member-States will need no work permits to work within the Union. Once the common labor market is created, the EAEU citizens will be able to experience directly the benefits of the Eurasian Economic Union. Education degrees will be mutually recognized automatically, starting off January 1, 2015. Taxes on incomes of individuals, the EAEU citizens, will be paid according to the domestic resident rate as of the first days of employment. The EAEU Member-States' citizens will no longer have to fill in migration cards when crossing internal borders between the EAEU countries, unless they exceed a 30 day period of stay from the day of entry. Besides, workers and their family members will be relieved of the obligation to get registered with law enforcement authorities for a period not exceeding 30 days.

Another most important novelty of the Treaty on the EAEU is a possibility to apply national treatment to the citizens of all the four countries in what regards social security, including health care. In each EAEU country all health-care services provided by the state will be equally accessible for all the citizens of the Union countries. (Primarily, free ambulance services are meant).

Regarding pensions, the Treaty on the EAEU contains a commitment to solve the issue of pensions export and crediting of total seniority accumulated in another Union country. At the moment, the EEC, jointly with the Parties, elaborates an Agreement on pension coverage that will become effective after 2015.

The session of the supreme eurasian economic council discussed the operation of the Eurasian Economic Union and its agencies from january 1, 2015

December 23, Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC) held its session in Moscow. The summit was attended by the Heads of the Member-States of the Customs Union (CU) and Single Economic Space (SES) – the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, as well as the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambaev. The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) was represented by the EEC Board Chairman Viktor Khristenko.

Operation of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and its Agencies from January 1, 2015 was one of the main issues discussed at the session.

The summit participants signed a number of decisions aimed at regulation of the activities of the EAEU Agencies, formation of the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Court of the Eurasian Economic Union, and their operation.

The Heads of the States signed the Treaty on Accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union.

The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a law "on ratification of the treaty on the Eurasian Economic Enion."

October 14, the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev signed the law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Ratification of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union."

This ratification had been previously approved by the Mazhilis of the Parliament (October 1), as well as by the Senate of the Parliament (October 9) of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The Treaty is a fundamental document that determines the agreements of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Kazakhstan on creation of the Eurasian Economic Union in order to remove the barriers to the free movement of goods, services, capital and labor, pursue coordinated, harmonized and single policy in the key sectors of economy.

The Treaty on the EAEU was signed by the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on May 29, 2014, in Astana.

The President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed a law on the eeu treaty ratification

October 10, Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC) held its session in Minsk. The Summit was attended by the leaders of the Member-States of the Customs Union (CU) and Single Economic Space (SES) the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, as well as by the Presidents of the Republic of Armenia and the Kyrgyz Republic. The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) was represented by the EEC Board Chairman Viktor Khristenko.

Signing of the Treaty on Armenia's accession to the EAEU was one of the main outcomes of the Summit.

The Summit participants discussed financial, organizational and technical aspects related to the beginning of the Eurasian Economic Union's (EAEU) operation as of January 1, 2015.

The general staff size and structure of the Eurasian Economic Union Court was approved, as well as the procedure for selection of candidates for offices in the Secretariat of the Eurasian Economic Union Court.

Moreover, a Statute on the Symbols of the Eurasian Economic Union was passed that approves the Union's emblem and flag.

The documents signed at the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on October 10, 2014

Treaty:

1. Treaty on Accession of the Republic of Armenia to the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union

Statements:

1. Statement on Implementation of Intrastate Procedures Necessary for the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union dated May 29, 2014, to Become Effective
2. Statement of the plan of activities ('roadmap') for the accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Single Economic Space of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, in view of the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union and the intention of the Kyrgyz Republic to become a full Member-State of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Решения:

1. On approval of the plan of activities ('roadmap') for the accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Single Economic Space of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, in view of establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union
2. On approval of the Statute on the Symbols of the Eurasian Economic Union
3. On the annual report on the implementation of 2013 Eurasian Economic Commission budget
4. On Statute for the Eurasian Economic Union Budget
5. On the amount (scale) of the contributions of the EAEU Member-States to the Eurasian Economic Union budget
6. On approval of the parameters of the EAEU Member-States officials representation in the Eurasian Economic Commission Departments
7. On approval of the general staff size and structure of the Eurasian Economic Union Court
8. On the remunerations for judges, officials and employees of the Eurasian Economic Union Court
9. On selection of candidates for vacant positions in the Secretariat of the Eurasian Economic Union Court
10. On the Procedure for verifying authenticity and fullness of the information regarding income, property and property-related liabilities of the judges, officials and employees of the Eurasian Economic Union Court, as well as the members of their families
11. On determining the amount, currency, procedure for entering into an account, use and repayment of the duty paid by economic operators for applying to the Eurasian Economic Union Court
12. On entry into force of the Protocol on Amendments to the Agreement on Determining the Customs Value of the Goods Carried across the Customs Border of the Customs Union, dated January 25, 2008
13. On amendments to the List of Sensitive Goods, for which the Decision on Changing the Import Duty Rate is Made by the EEC Council
14. On development of a system fol labeling of certain types of light industry products in the territories of the Member-States of the Customs Union and Single Economic Space

Instructions:

1. Instruct the Eurasian Economic Commission to prepare, jointly with the governments of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, proposals for approaches to develop economic cooperation with key trade partners of the Eurasian Economic Union

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a federal law on ratification of the treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union

October 3, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a Federal law "On Ratification of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union."

Previously, October 1, the Council of Federation had approved the Federal Law. September 26, at the Morning Plenary Session of the State Duma of the RF, the Treaty was ratified by the votes of 441 deputies.

The Treaty is a fundamental document that determines the agreements of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Kazakhstan on creation of the Eurasian Economic Union in order to remove the barriers to the free movement of goods, services, capital and labor, pursue coordinated, harmonized and single policy in the key sectors of economy.

The Treaty on the EAEU was signed by the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on May 29, 2014, in Astana.

Alexander Lukashenko and Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed key areas of cooperation within the integration structures

August 27 in Minsk, a bilateral meeting was held between the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. During the meetings, the Parties discussed the results of the meeting held the day before between the leaders of the CU countries, Ukraine and representatives of the European Union. The Heads of States expressed their confidence that the agreements reached based on the meeting would affect the situation in Ukraine in a positive way.

Besides, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Alexander Lukashenko discussed the key areas of bilateral cooperation in trade, economic, industrial, innovation and agricultural sectors. Besides, the matters of cooperation within integration structures and current aspects of international agenda were also addressed.

In Astana, presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia signed treaty on establishment of Eurasian Economic Union

May 29 in Astana, based on the results of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council session, a ceremony of signing the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was held. The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Russia Vladimir Putin. Subject to the Treaty signed, the Eurasian Economic Union will start operating as of January 1, 2015.

In their press statements based on the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the Heads of States pointed out the positive significance of the creation of the EAEU for the three countries' economies.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev emphasized that "a new economic reality of the 21st century is being born today." According to President Nazarbayev, it is only logical that Astana became venue for signing of the EAEU Treaty, since it is here where the idea to create an association was born. "It will become a great chronicle of good-neighborly relations between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. Twenty years ago I voiced an idea to create a new association. The idea of Eurasian integration was supported by Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko. And we started to embody it. We need to unite potentials of our States for joint growth," Nursultan Nazarbayev said. "Enhancing the Eurasian integration is beneficial for our countries and nations. One of our key goals is to unite each country's potentials to jointly upgrade, raise and improve the competitiveness of our countries," Kazakh President said.

He also added that the EAEU will create a long-term environment for the development. "By developing the integration we are coming through a free trade zone, the Customs Union. We will have to show the whole world that our decision was right. We had little time to come to today's decision. We have done a great deal of work and solved complicated issues. Now we are going to have the new document ratified by Parliaments of our States so that the Union would become effective as of January 1, 2015. The 29th of May must become the Day of Eurasian Integration," Nursultan Nazarbayev said.

The President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that "we are ready to move consistently and steadily along the path of fulfillment of the agreements reached in a very difficult negotiation process." He noted that: "I wish our further joint work in these areas did not slow down, and we moved persistently along this path. Signing the Treaty is not the end of the process; it's a beginning of a more serious process President Nazarbayev just spoke about. The process where we will have to prove to our nations and the whole world that we have made right steps in this direction."

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin pointed out that "it is in Kazakhstan where the Treaty is being signed, in its capital. Because it was President Nazarbayev who was at the source of the very idea of the Eurasian Union. He was the first who voiced that idea in his speech, as I remember, at Moscow State University in 1994." He added: "Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are reaching an absolutely new level of interaction, creating a common space with free movement of goods, services, capital and labor. The three States will pursue a coordinated policy in the key sectors of economy: energy, industry, agriculture and transport. We are forming essentially the largest single market within the CIS (over 170 million people) with huge production, science and technology potential and enormous natural resources." The Head of the Russian State emphasized the importance of the fact that "delegation of certain powers to supranational bodies of the Union does not damage our countries' sovereignty whatsoever."

Lecture of the President of Kazakhstan at Lomonosov Moscow State University

On May 28, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev spoke in Lomonosov Moscow State University. In his speech the President of Kazakhstan pointed out that 20 years ago in his lecture at MSU he for the first time voiced the idea to create the Eurasian Economic Union.

The President of Kazakhstan said that the concept of the Eurasian Economic Union was based on the truth which is equally close and clear to our countries' citizens. "Common history, mutual economic gravitation, close cultural ties and closeness of people's aspirations give our nations a chance to build a new type of multilateral interstate connections. I have always been and remain a strong advocate of the idea that the Eurasian Union is only possible on the principles of voluntariness, equal rights, mutual benefits and taking into account interests of each Member-State," Nursultan Nazarbayev pointed out.

The Head of Kazakhstan also emphasized that the key task of the association is to raise competitiveness of our States, which does not go beyond the economic component.

In conclusion of the meeting, the Rector of Lomonosov MSU handed a commemorative diploma to Nursultan Nazarbayev in dedication of his visit.

Further prospects of the Eurasian economic integration outlined at the SEEC in Minsk

April 29, a regular session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC) was held in Minsk, attended by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Russia Vladimir Putin. Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Viktor Khristenko also took part in the SEEC session.

During the meeting, the Heads of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia discussed the operation of the Customs Union (CU) and Single Economic Space (SES), progress of the work on the Treaty on establishment since January 1, 2015 of the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as preparation of a Treaty on accession of Armenia to the CU and SES.

Based on the results of the SEEC session, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Viktor Khristenko pointed out clear development prospects for the Eurasian economic integration: «The highest state level itself implies not only the complexity of the negotiation process, but also the significance and most advanced prospects in many areas. For instance, in forming a common market for oil, oil products and gas. These are fundamentally new constructs that we have not had before and that have only existed as deletions".

He also pointed out that "the issues of interaction in the oil and gas area will be regulated subject to applicable agreements of 2010 and relevant bilateral arrangements that would ensure a proper cooperation status in these areas for the whole period until the common market is formed." Viktor Khristenko emphasized: "the common markets of gas, oil and oil products will be launched no later than 2025, and the Presidents will approve the concepts of each market by 2016. By 2025, the issues of interaction in this area will be regulated subject to applicable and additional agreements. Duties for oil products shall be a subject of bilateral arrangements." The EEC Board Chairman Viktor Khristenko said that the single financial regulator of the Eurasian Economic Union will start its operation in 2025,"Speaking about financial regulator, it is stipulated in the agreement that the financial regulator will start functioning by 2025 and will be located in Almaty, Kazakhstan."

The EEC Board Chairman also pointed out that the draft Treaty on Armenia's accession to the Customs Union and Single Economic Space of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia is planned to be prepared for consideration by the Heads of states by June 1, 2014. Speaking about the progress in implementation plan for Armenia's accession to the CU and SES, he pointed out that during Minsk session "the work completed by today was approved." Viktor Khristenko noted that "out of 126 items on the 'road map' that were supposed to be implemented prior to signing of the Accession Treaty, 111 have already been implemented and 15 will be included in the Treaty itself."

Based on the results of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council session, the Presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia instructed the governments of the tree states and the EEC to complete studying all the individual issues as soon as possible in order to submit the document for signing to the Heads of states by the end of May, at the summit of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Astana.

Heads of the governments of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia had a meeting in Moscow

April 15, Heads of the governments of the CU and SES Member-States had a meeting in Moscow. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov, Prime Minister of the Russia Dmitry Medvedev. The session was also attended by the Chairman of the EEC Board Viktor Khistenko and Members of the EEC Board

In the course of the session, the Heads of the Governments of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia discussed the operation of the Customs Union and Single Economic Space, the progress in preparation of the draft Treaty on founding the Eurasian Economic Union as of January 1, 2015.

The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council held its regular meeting in Moscow

On March 5, the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council held its regular meeting attended by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, and the Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Viktor Khristenko.

In the course of the meeting, the Leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia discussed the functioning of the Customs Union and Single Economic Space, progress achieved in the work on the Treaty on the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union, scheduled for January 1, 2015 as well as a prospect of preparing an Agreement on accession of Armenia to the future union.

Following the results of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council session, the State Leaders agreed that preparation of the draft Treaty shall be finished by May, and that all the essential documents shall be signed until the timeframe agreed.