The address reads that Belarus views the Eurasian Economic Union as a crucial integration project promoting economic and social stability in the region. During its chairmanship, Belarus will strive to strengthen good neighbourliness, and expand economic co-operation, while promoting the Union’s four fundamental economic freedoms: movement of goods, services, capital and labour.
At all the stages in establishing the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty, Belarus has consistently urged that economic activities within the EEU be liberalised as much as possible. ‘We still believe that the complete abolition of exemptions and restrictions relating to the movement of goods should be at the core of the Eurasian Economic Union’, reads the address.
A number of proposals are also put forward, suggesting the prompt transition to a co-ordinated and, later, a single industrial and agro-industrial policy. It advocates for the development and adoption of major industrial collaboration within the Union and the unconditional launch of single markets for medicines and healthcare products, from January 2016. Moreover, it proposes the launch of joint export promotion activities, as stipulated by the Treaty.
Belarus has urged elaboration of a concept to establish common markets for electricity, gas, oil and oil products. It declares that practical steps will be undertaken to advance integration in the service sector during Belarus’ chairmanship.
Top of the agenda is customs tariff and non-tariff protection across the single customs space. Belarus expects openness and transparency from its partners in matters relating to WTO talks.
Moreover, Belarus has proposed that efficient mechanisms be used to maintain the operation of the EEU if one member state imposes unilateral market protection measures against third countries. Much attention should be paid to the co-ordination of interaction in areas of sanitary, veterinary and phyto-sanitary measures and the protection of consumer rights.
The Head of State is hopeful that Belarus’ initiatives will be upheld by EEU member states. ‘I’m convinced that our close collaboration will help us materialise our plans and turn the Eurasian Economic Union into an independent centre of sustainable economic growth’, the address reads.
By Veniamin Mikheev
