Golovchenko on implementation of Union State programmes: there’s significant progress and good result
The course towards integration and implementation of the Union State programmes with Russia has proven to be correct, and the chosen direction of co-operation is now bringing us economic dividends – as Belarus’ Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko told journalists, commenting on the results of a meeting with the President on the implementation of the Union State integration programmes
In particular, Roman Golovchenko noted, “It was a conscious decision, approved by the heads of the two states. They outlined the trajectory of movement, the tasks facing government agencies that are implementing the Union State programmes. In the Government, we are unanimous in our opinion that the programmes work for the benefit of Belarus. During their implementation, we have not lost a single gram of sovereignty.”
According to the PM, the implementation of the Union State programmes can be assessed in several ways: by the number of completed activities (about 70 percent now), by the level of foreign trade turnover and general economic liaisons between Belarus and Russia, by the settlement of ‘old issues that were a certain brake’.
“We have significant progress and good results across all these three areas,” Roman Golovchenko assessed.
Answering the question in which areas the work is going well enough, and where it is necessary to focus efforts, the Head of Government noted, “We are making good progress in all programmes. Seven of them have been completed. Work is going on more slowly (we knew this from the beginning and were ready for it) on energy programmes. Here the question is in the fundamental, institutional approaches to how the common markets, for example, of gas and oil, should function ... We will complete this work anyway.”
As an example, Roman Golovchenko cited the work on harmonisation of tax and customs cards, which was also quite difficult, “When we started, there were much more questions than answers. But we can declare that the agreement [regarding general principles of taxation] on indirect taxes has been signed. Today, this was reported in detail to the Head of State. Information about tangible financial results that Belarus received from the implementation of the measures laid down in this agreement were also reported.”
