Eurasian Economic Union. Eurasian Economic Union: what is it, countries Eurasian Trade Union

Eurasian Economic Union (hereinafter - EAEU)- an international organization for regional economic integration with international legal personality and established by the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union. The EAEU ensures freedom of movement of goods, services, capital and labor, as well as the implementation of a coordinated, consistent and unified policy in sectors of the economy.

The goals of creating the EAEU are:

• comprehensive modernization, cooperation and increasing the competitiveness of national economies;
• creating conditions for the stable development of the economies of the member states in the interests of improving the living standards of their population.

Within the EAEU:

In relation to third EAEU countries, uniform non-tariff regulation measures are applied, such as:

• prohibition of import and (or) export of goods;
• quantitative restrictions on the import and (or) export of goods;
• exclusive right to export and (or) import goods;
• automatic licensing (supervision) of export and (or) import of goods;
• permitting procedure for the import and (or) export of goods.

Member states of the Eurasian Economic Union

History of the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union

The official start date for the formation of the Customs Union can be considered 1995, when an Agreement on the creation of the Union was concluded between the Russian Federation, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Belarus. The purpose of this Agreement was to establish economic interaction between the parties, ensure free exchange of goods and fair competition.

On February 26, 1999, the Agreement on the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space was signed. The parties to the Treaty were Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and since 2006 - Uzbekistan. Until the early 2000s, the participating countries were actively engaged in the process of establishing cooperation in various fields of activity (including sociocultural, scientific).

In 2000, a decision was made to establish the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC). The members of the community were the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan.

In 2003, the Agreement on the formation of the Common Economic Space (SES) was signed. Work began on preparing the legal framework for the SES, which later became the basis for the functioning of the Union. The most important events in the process of forming the Customs Union were two informal summits of the heads of state of the EurAsEC.

At an informal summit on August 16, 2006, the heads of state of the EurAsEC decided to form a Customs Union within the EurAsEC, according to which Kazakhstan, Belarus and Russia were instructed to prepare a legal framework. A year later, on October 6, 2007, at the EurAsEC summit, a package of documents was approved and signed, marking the beginning of the creation of the legal framework of the Customs Union (agreements on the creation of the Single Customs Territory and the formation of the Customs Union, on the Commission of the Customs Union, protocols on amendments to the Treaty on the Establishment EurAsEC, on the procedure for the entry into force of international treaties aimed at forming the legal framework of the customs union, withdrawal from them and accession to them). In addition, an Action Plan for the formation of a customs union within the EurAsEC was approved.

Officially, on January 1, 2010, the Customs Union of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation began to function. The united states began to apply a single customs tariff and uniform non-tariff regulation measures in foreign trade with third countries, and also streamlined tariff benefits and preferences for goods from third countries, and the Customs Code of the Customs Union came into force. Gradually, customs clearance and customs control began to be abolished at the internal borders of the participating countries of the Customs Union, and points for accepting notifications were eliminated.

In 2012, international treaties came into force, forming the legal basis for the Common Economic Space of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, creating the basis for the free movement of not only goods, but also services, capital and labor.

With the signing of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union on May 29, 2014, the participating countries of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space marked the beginning of a new, closer interaction. On October 10, 2014, the Republic of Armenia joined the Treaty on the EAEU. On December 23, 2014, the Treaty on the Accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the EAEU was signed.

Structure of the unified customs legislation of the Eurasian Economic Union

In connection with the formation of the regulatory legal framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, the customs legislation of the participating states is changing. First of all, in addition to the current national legislation, two more levels of regulation have appeared: international agreements of the member states of the Customs Union and Decisions of the Customs Union Commission (currently the Eurasian Economic Commission). At the moment, the customs legislation of the EAEU is a four-level system:

Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union

The transition to a higher level of integration required major changes in the legal and regulatory framework of the Union. Work on the creation of a new Customs Code took several years; the process required numerous approvals of amendments by the Union member states. On December 26, 2016, the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union was adopted, which replaced the Customs Code of the Customs Union adopted in 2009. The new EAEU Labor Code came into force on January 1, 2018. The document combines many international treaties and agreements of the Customs Union (for example, the Agreement on determining the customs value of goods moved across the customs border of the Customs Union), which will lose force in whole or in part.

The EAEU Customs Code contains a number of new provisions relating not only to the structure of the Code itself (the new EAEU Customs Code contains 4 appendices, which were not in the CU Customs Code), but also to the rules of customs regulation in the Union. Thus, in the draft EAEU Customs Code, the conceptual apparatus was updated, the “single window” principle was introduced, the priority of electronic declaration was declared, some changes were made to customs procedures, the institution of an authorized economic operator was reformed, etc.

Governing bodies of the Eurasian Economic Union

The governing bodies of the EAEU are:

• Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (supreme governing body)
• Eurasian Intergovernmental Council
• Eurasian Economic Commission (working permanent body)
• Court of the Eurasian Economic Union

Directions of activity of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Every year the world moves further along the path of globalization and integration. Ties within economic and political unions are becoming stronger, and new interstate associations are emerging. One of such organizations is the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Let's learn more about the work of this regional association.

The essence of the EAEU

What is the Eurasian Economic Union? This is an international association aimed at the economic integration of a number of countries located in Europe and Asia. Currently, it only includes a number of states of the former Soviet Union, but this does not mean that, theoretically, the EAEU cannot expand beyond the borders of the former USSR.

It should be noted that members of the Eurasian Economic Union are expanding cooperation among themselves not only in economic terms, but also in political and cultural aspects.

Organizational goals

The main goal that the Eurasian Economic Union sets for itself is to deepen economic interaction between its member countries. This is expressed in local tasks, such as stimulating trade circulation between countries, removing customs and tax restrictions on trade, developing cooperation and developing common economic projects. The result of deepening cooperation should be the growth of the economies of the participating countries and an increase in the living standards of their citizens.

The main tool for achieving the strategic goal is to ensure free trade, which is expressed in the unimpeded movement of goods, capital, labor and other resources within the borders of the EAEU.

Background of creation

Let's find out how such an organization as the Eurasian Economic Union was formed.

The creation of the CIS marked the beginning of the reintegration of states in the vastness of the former USSR. The agreement on the formation of this entity was signed in December 1991 between the heads of the RSFSR, Belarus and Ukraine. Later, until 1994 inclusive, all Soviet republics, except the Baltic countries, joined it. True, Turkmenistan takes part in the organization as an association; the Ukrainian parliament has never ratified the agreement, therefore, although the country is a founder and participant in the association, it is not legally a member, and Georgia left the CIS in 2008.

At the same time, during their work, the Commonwealth institutions have shown their low efficiency. The decisions of the CIS bodies were actually not binding on its members and were often not implemented, and the economic effect of cooperation was minimal. This has forced the governments of some countries in the region to think about creating more effective systems of interaction.

The President of Kazakhstan made a statement about the need to create a closer union than the CIS, which would imply systemic integration of the economies of the participating countries, as well as a common defense policy. By analogy with the European Union, he called the hypothetical organization the Eurasian Union. As we can see, the name stuck and was used in the future to create a new economic structure.

The next step on the path of mutual integration was the signing in 1996 of the Agreement on Deepening Integration between the leaders of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Its action covered both economic and humanitarian spheres.

EurAsEC is the predecessor of the EAEU

In 2001, the integration aspirations of the above countries, as well as Tajikistan, which joined them, were expressed in the creation of a full-fledged international organization - the Eurasian Economic Community. In 2006, Uzbekistan became a member of the EurAsEC, but only after two years it suspended its participation in the organization. Ukraine, Moldova and Armenia received observer status.

The purpose of this organization was to deepen economic cooperation in the region, as well as to implement some tasks that the CIS could not cope with. It was a natural continuation of the integration processes that were launched by the 1996 agreement, and the Eurasian Economic Union was the result of common efforts.

Organization of the Customs Union

One of the main tasks of the EurAsEC was the organization of the Customs Union. It provided for a single customs territory. That is, within the borders of this interstate association, customs duties were not levied when moving goods.

The agreement on the formation of the Customs Union between representatives of Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus was signed back in 2007. But before the organization could begin to fully function, each of the participating countries had to make appropriate changes to their domestic legislation.

TS began its activities in January 2010. First of all, this was expressed in the formation of identical customs tariffs. The Unified Customs Code came into effect in July. It served as the foundation on which the entire TS system rests. This is how the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union was formed, which is still in force today.

In 2011, a common customs territory began to function, which meant the abolition of all customs restrictions between the CU countries.

During 2014-2015, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia also joined the Customs Union. Representatives of the authorities of Tunisia and Syria expressed their desire for their countries to join the CU organization in the future.

The Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union are, in fact, components of the same regional integration process.

Education of the EAEU

The Eurasian Economic Union is the final result of the integration aspirations of a number of countries of the former Soviet Union. The decision to create this organization was made at the summit of the heads of EurAsEC members back in 2010. Since 2012, the Common Economic Space began to function, on the basis of which the formation of the EAEU was planned.

In May 2014, an agreement was agreed between the heads of Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus on the creation of this organization. In fact, it came into force at the beginning of 2015. Due to this fact, the EurAsEC was liquidated.

Participating countries

Initially, the founding countries of the EurAsEC organization were the states that were most interested in economic integration in the region. These are Kazakhstan, Belarus and Russia. Later they were joined by Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

Thus, currently the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union are represented by five countries.

Extension

The United Eurasian Economic Union is not a structure with fixed borders. Hypothetically, any country that meets the requirements of the organization can become its member. Thus, in January 2015, Armenia became a member of the union, and in August Kyrgyzstan joined the organization.

The most likely candidate to join the community is Tajikistan. This country cooperates closely with the EAEU states within the framework of other regional organizations and does not remain aloof from integration processes. Tajikistan is a member of the CIS, the collective defense organization CSTO, and at one time was a full member of the EurAsEC community, which ceased to exist after the EAEU began functioning. In 2014, the President of Tajikistan announced the need to study the possibility of the country joining the EAEU.

In 2012-2013, negotiations were held on the possible future entry into the organization of Ukraine, since regional cooperation without this country, according to experts, could not give the maximum effect. But the political elite of the state was committed to integration in the European direction. After the overthrow of the Yanukovych government in 2014, the possibility of Ukraine joining the EAEU can only be realistic in the long term.

Controls

Members of the Eurasian Economic Union formed the governing bodies of this international organization.

The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council is the governing body of the EAEU at the highest level. It includes heads that represent the states of the Eurasian Economic Union. This body resolves all the most important strategic issues. He holds a meeting once a year. Decisions are made exclusively unanimously. The countries of the Eurasian Economic Union are obliged to comply with all decisions of the Supreme Council of the EAEU.

Naturally, a body that meets once a year cannot fully ensure the constant functioning of the entire organization. For these purposes, a commission of the Eurasian Economic Union (Eurasian Economic Commission) was created. The tasks of this structure include the preparation and implementation of specific integration measures, which are provided for by the general development strategy developed by the Supreme Council. Currently, the commission employs 1,071 people who have received the status of international employees.

The executive body of the commission is the Collegium. It consists of fourteen people. In fact, each of them is an analogue of ministers in national governments and is responsible for a specific area of ​​activity: economy, energy, customs cooperation, trade, etc.

Economic interaction

The main goal of creating the EAEU is to deepen economic integration between the countries of the region. Therefore, it is not surprising that economics comes first in the organization’s tasks.

Within the boundaries of the organization, the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union, adopted back in 2010, before the start of the functioning of the EAEU, is in force. It provides for the free movement of goods without customs control in the territory of all countries of the organization.

The use of economic instruments provided for by the EAEU development concept is intended to reduce the cost of goods that cross the border due to the absence of a customs margin on them; increase competition, which should cause an increase in product quality; bring tax legislation in all countries to a common denominator; increase the GDP of the organization’s members and the welfare of their citizens.

Criticism

At the same time, there are many critical reviews of the work of the EAEU among economic analysts. Moreover, they exist both among ardent opponents of the existence of such an organization, and among its moderate supporters.

Thus, the fact that the project was actually launched before all the nuances of its mechanisms had been worked out and agreements had been reached on the prospects of the EAEU has been criticized. It is also noted that in fact the union pursues political rather than economic goals, and in economic terms it is not beneficial for all its members, including Russia.

Prospects

At the same time, the prospects for the EAEU, given the correct choice of economic course and coordination of actions between the participants, look quite good. A significant economic effect is noticeable even under the conditions of sanctions imposed on Russia by Western countries. In the future, it is planned that the effect of participation in the EAEU will be expressed in a 25 percent increase in GDP for all its participants.

In addition, there is a possibility of further expansion of the organization. Many countries of the world are interested in cooperation with the EAEU without joining the union. For example, a free trade zone will soon begin to operate between the community and Vietnam. The governments of Iran, China, India, Egypt, Pakistan and a number of other states have also expressed interest in establishing such relations.

Subtotals

It is still too early to talk about how successful the implementation of the EAEU has been, because the organization has been functioning for just over a year. At the same time, certain intermediate results can be drawn right now.

It is a great achievement that the organization actually works and is not a structure created just for show. This is especially significant in the context of international economic sanctions against the country, which, in fact, is the cementing basis of the union - Russia.

At the same time, despite many positive aspects, it should be noted that the EAEU does not function as clearly as those who saw the future of this organization only in rosy colors would like. There are many disagreements both at the level of senior management of the participating countries and in terms of agreeing on small details, which leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of the economic return of this project as a whole.

But let’s hope that the shortcomings will be resolved over time, and the EAEU will turn into a clear mechanism that works effectively for the benefit of all its members.

Legal basis of the EAEU

Basic provisions. Article 1.

1. ... The Eurasian Economic Union (hereinafter referred to as the Union, EAEU), within the framework of which the freedom of movement of goods, services, capital and labor is ensured, the implementation of a coordinated, agreed or unified policy in the sectors of the economy defined by this Treaty and international treaties within the Union.
2. The Union is an international organization for regional economic integration with international legal personality.

Goals of the Union. Article 4.

The main goals of the Union are:

• creating conditions for the stable development of the economies of the member states in the interests of improving the living standards of their population;
• the desire to form a single market for goods, services, capital and labor resources within the Union;
• comprehensive modernization, cooperation and increasing the competitiveness of national economies in the global economy.

Fundamental principles and norms of functioning of the EAEU. Article 3.

• respect for generally recognized principles of international law, including the principles of sovereign equality of member states and their territorial integrity;
• respect for the peculiarities of the political structure of the member states;
• ensuring mutually beneficial cooperation, equality and consideration of the national interests of the Parties;
• compliance with the principles of a market economy and fair competition;
• functioning of the customs union without exceptions and restrictions after the end of the transition periods.

The principle of most favored nation treatment in trade- an economic and legal term meaning the establishment in international treaties and agreements of provisions under which each of the contracting parties undertakes to provide the other party, its individuals and legal entities with no less favorable conditions in the field of economic, trade and other relations that it provides or will provide in in the future to any third state, its individuals or legal entities.

The above principle is enshrined in the provisions of Article 1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade of 1947 - the fundamental document of the World Trade Organization, the norms and principles of operation of which are taken into account when applying the provisions of the Treaty on the EAEU (preamble to the Treaty on the EAEU).

The principle of free movement of capital, goods, services and labor, providing for the possibility of subjects of economic relations to freely carry out their activities within the Common Economic Space, and, therefore, the absence of restrictions at the national level

History of the EAEU

Stage of “institutional integration”

The coming to power of Vladimir Putin in the Russian Federation and a certain stabilization of the socio-economic situation in key countries of the Eurasian Community in the early 2000s allowed the leaders of these countries to embark on more serious approaches to integration. During this period, the most important integration structures were established - the EurAsEC and the CSTO, which, however, had not yet realized their full potential for a long time, which is why it can be called the stage of “institutional integration”.

In 2000, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan established the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) in order to increase the efficiency of interaction, develop integration processes and deepen cooperation in various fields. In 2006, Uzbekistan joined the Community. The priorities of the new international organization were to increase the efficiency of interaction and develop integration.

In 2003, the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine, based on the concept of multi-level integration, within the CIS, concluded an Agreement on the formation of a Common Economic Space in order to create conditions for the stable and effective development of the economies of states and improving the living standards of their populations.

In August 2006, at an informal summit of the heads of state members of the Eurasian Economic Community in Sochi, a decision was made to intensify work on the formation of the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia with the further possible accession of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to it.

Based on the agreements reached at the summit, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia in October 2007 signed an Agreement on the creation of a single customs territory and the formation of a Customs Union.

"Actual integration" stage

However, only the onset of the financial and economic crisis, which broke out around the world in 2008, stimulated the search for new models for minimizing economic risks and sustainable development and finally determined the intensification of regional integration processes.

In June 2009, the highest body of the Customs Union determined the stages and timing of the formation of a single customs territory of the Customs Union (CU), designating January 1, 2010 as the beginning of the first stage of its formation.

By January 1, 2012, the legal framework of the SES was formed - a market with 170 million consumers, unified legislation, free movement of goods, services, capital and labor. The SES is based on coordinated actions in key areas of economic regulation: macroeconomics, competition, industrial and agricultural subsidies, transport, energy, and natural monopoly tariffs. For the population and business community, the benefits from the SES are obvious. Entrepreneurs have equal access to the common market of the three countries, can freely choose where to register their companies and conduct business, sell goods without unnecessary restrictions in any of the SES member states, have access to transport infrastructure, etc. Creation and phased debugging the mechanisms of the single market is an important part of the plans of the CU and CES member states for the transition from a resource-based economy to an innovative one.

On February 2, 2012, the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) began work - for the first time in the twenty-year history of the Eurasian integration process, a permanent supranational regulatory body was created with real powers in a number of key areas of the economy. The EEC provides the conditions for the functioning and development of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space, and the development of proposals for the further development of integration.

2013 became one of the most significant periods in the improvement and development of Eurasian integration processes. In particular, work continued to ensure the accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Eurasian integration project, which began with the decision of the Interstate Council of the EurAsEC adopted back in 2011.

In May 2013, a Memorandum on deepening interaction between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Kyrgyz Republic was signed. The purpose of concluding the Memorandum is to maintain and develop cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect, deepening the interaction of the Kyrgyz Republic with the member states of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space in various spheres of the economy.

On September 3, 2013, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan announced his country’s intention to join the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space and integrate further by participating in the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. At the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on October 24, 2013 in Minsk, the Presidents of the participating countries considered the appeal of the Republic of Armenia and instructed the EEC to begin work on accession. The EEC Working Group created for this purpose developed a corresponding “road map”.

On December 24, 2013, the “road map” for the accession of the Republic of Armenia to the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space was approved at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council at the level of heads of state. The heads of state of the “customs troika” and Armenia adopted the Statement “On the participation of the Republic of Armenia in the Eurasian integration process,” which welcomed the intention of the Republic of Armenia to join the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space and subsequently become a full member of the Eurasian Economic Union.

In 2013–2014, the Eurasian Economic Commission and the authorized bodies of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, on instructions from the Presidents of their countries, actively prepared the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). With its adoption, the codification of international treaties constituting the regulatory legal framework of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space was completed.

During this period, 5 rounds of negotiations took place to finalize the draft Treaty, in which more than 700 experts from member states and the EEC took part. The final document, numbering more than 1000 pages, consists of 4 parts (including 28 sections, 118 articles) and 33 annexes.

On May 29, 2014, in Astana, during a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, Presidents Alexander Lukashenko, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Vladimir Putin signed the Treaty on the Establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union. Many politicians and experts called this project the most ambitious and at the same time the most realistic, based on calculated economic advantages and mutual benefits. Wide opportunities are opening up for the business community of the participating states: the Treaty gives the green light to the formation of new dynamic markets with uniform standards and requirements for goods, services, capital, and labor.

On October 10, 2014, the Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Armenia to the EAEU was signed in Minsk. The document was adopted at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, which was attended by the heads of its member states. On the same day, Presidents Alexander Lukashenko, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Vladimir Putin approved the road map for joining the Single Economic Space of the Kyrgyz Republic.

On December 23, 2014 in Moscow, at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambaev signed the Treaty on the Accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the EAEU.

The Eurasian Economic Union began to function on January 1, 2015. The Republic of Belarus became the first chairman of the highest bodies of the association - the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council at the level of heads of state, the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council at the level of heads of government and the EEC Council at the level of vice-premiers.

At the same time, on January 1, 2015, a single market for services began to operate in a number of sectors defined by the EAEU states, within which service providers were provided with the maximum level of freedom.

The total number of service sectors in the single market is 43. In value terms, this is almost 50% of the total volume of service provision in the states of the Union. In the future, the Parties will strive to maximize the expansion of these sectors, including through a gradual reduction of exemptions and restrictions, which will strengthen the Eurasian integration project.

On January 2, 2015, after the completion of ratification procedures, the Republic of Armenia became a full member of the Eurasian Economic Union. In March 2015, the first documents were presented for public discussion, in October 2015 - the last of about forty that the EAEU countries and the Commission needed to adopt by the end of the year to begin work in the Union of Common Markets for Medicines and Medical Devices.

On May 29, 2015, the EAEU countries and Vietnam signed an agreement to create a free trade zone. The document, which provides for the zeroing out of duties on 90% of goods, will allow the trade turnover of the allied states and Vietnam to more than double by 2020. The agreement marked the beginning of subsequent closer integration with countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

In May 2015, the Presidents of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union decided to begin negotiations with China to conclude an agreement on trade and economic cooperation. This is not yet a preferential agreement, but an important stage in the development of economic cooperation, streamlining the entire structure of relations and creating a basis for further movement. Including with a view to possibly reaching an agreement on a free trade zone in the future. To effectively organize this activity, in October 2015, the Presidents adopted a decree on coordinating the actions of the Union countries on the issues of linking the construction of the EAEU and the Silk Road Economic Belt. The official ones started at the beginning of 2016.

On August 12, 2015, after the implementation of the “road map” and the completion of ratification procedures, the Kyrgyz Republic became a full member of the Union.

In October 2015, at the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the Presidents of the five union countries approved the Main Directions of Economic Development of the EAEU until 2030 - an important document that determines the further coordination of national policies and ways to increase the competitiveness of the economies of the Union states. The effect of participation in the EAEU by 2030 for member states is estimated at up to 13% of additional GDP growth.

On January 1, 2016, the functioning of common markets for medicines and medical products begins in the Eurasian Economic Union. The unified system in this area formed in the EAEU will ensure their safety and quality, create optimal conditions for the development and increase in the competitiveness of the pharmaceutical industry and medical products produced in the territory of the Union countries, and their introduction to the world market.

Over the last four-year period, and especially actively in 2015 in connection with the acquisition of international legal personality by the Union after the signing of the Treaty on the EAEU, the EAEU member states, together with the EEC, strengthened the influence of the Union on the external contour. His authority and importance in the international arena have increased markedly. This is confirmed not only by the expansion of the Eurasian Economic Union through the accession of the Republic of Armenia and the Kyrgyz Republic, but also by the growing interest in close cooperation with the EAEU from many countries of the world: China, Vietnam, Israel, Egypt, India and others. An important element of the EAEU economic cooperation strategy should be direct dialogue between the Eurasian and European Commissions. The prerequisites for such a dialogue have been created.

In contrast to global crisis phenomena, the consistent and successful transformation of the Eurasian space continues on market economic principles while maintaining political independence and the established cultural identity of sovereign states.

Institutional structure of the EAEU

In 2012–2015, an effective institutional basis for Eurasian economic integration was formed: the Eurasian Economic Commission with headquarters in Moscow, the Court of the Eurasian Economic Union, located in Minsk. A decision was made to create a financial regulator by 2025, which will be located in Almaty.

The bodies of the Eurasian Economic Union are:

• Supreme Eurasian Economic Council;
• Eurasian Intergovernmental Council;
• Eurasian Economic Commission;
• Court of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Supreme Eurasian Economic Council

The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (Supreme Council, SEEC) is the supreme body of the Union, consisting of the heads of state members of the Union. The Supreme Council considers fundamental issues of the Union's activities, determines the strategy, directions and prospects for the development of integration and makes decisions aimed at realizing the goals of the Union.

Decisions and orders of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council are made by consensus. The decisions of the Supreme Council are subject to execution by member states in the manner prescribed by their national legislation.

Meetings of the Supreme Council are held at least once a year. To resolve urgent issues of the activities of the union, extraordinary meetings of the Supreme Council may be convened at the initiative of any of the member states or the Chairman of the Supreme Council.

Meetings of the Supreme Council are held under the leadership of the Chairman of the Supreme Council. Members of the Commission Council, the Chairman of the Board of the Commission and other invited persons may participate in meetings of the Supreme Council at the invitation of the Chairman of the Supreme Council.

Eurasian Intergovernmental Council

The Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (Intergovernmental Council) is a body of the union consisting of heads of government of member states. The Intergovernmental Council ensures the implementation and monitoring of the execution of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union, international treaties within the framework of the union and decisions of the Supreme Council; considers, at the proposal of the Council of the Commission, issues on which consensus has not been reached; gives instructions to the Commission, and also exercises other powers provided for by the Treaty on the EAEU and international treaties within the union. Decisions and orders of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council are adopted by consensus and are subject to execution by member states in the manner prescribed by their national legislation.

Meetings of the Intergovernmental Council are held as necessary, but at least 2 times a year. To resolve urgent issues of the Union's activities, extraordinary meetings of the Intergovernmental Council may be convened at the initiative of any of the member states or the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Council.

Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC)

The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) is a permanent supranational regulatory body of the Eurasian Economic Union, which began working on February 2, 2012 on the basis of Appendix No. 1 to the Treaty on the EAEU and the Regulations on the Eurasian Economic Commission. The main objectives of the EEC are to ensure conditions for the functioning and development of the union, as well as to develop proposals in the field of economic integration within the union. The EEC carries out its activities based on the principles

• ensuring mutual benefit, equality and taking into account the national interests of member states;
• economic feasibility of decisions made;
• openness, publicity, objectivity.

EAEU Court

The Court of the Eurasian Economic Union is also a permanent judicial body of the Eurasian Economic Union. It began its work on January 1, 2015 on the basis of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union and the Statute of the Court of the Eurasian Economic Union. The purpose of the Court is to ensure, in accordance with the provisions of the Statute, the uniform application by member states and bodies of the union of the Treaty, international treaties within the union, international treaties of the union with a third Party and decisions of the bodies of the union. The Court is composed of two judges from each member state, each serving a nine-year term of office. The Chairman of the Court and his deputy are elected to positions from the Court by the judges of the Court in accordance with the Rules and are approved by the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. The President of the Court and his deputy cannot be citizens of the same Member State. The status, composition, competence, procedure for functioning and formation of the Union Court are determined by the Statute of the Court of the Eurasian Economic Union in accordance with Appendix No. 2 to the Treaty on the EAEU. The Court considers disputes arising on the implementation of the Treaty, international treaties within the union and (or) decisions of the union bodies, at the request of a member state or at the request of an economic entity (Appendix No. 2 to the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union, Statute of the Court of the Eurasian Economic Union) .

Thus, from the above it is obvious that the formation of the EAEU was extremely dynamic and took place in a short time. Also, in a fairly short period, the main institutions of the bloc were formed to ensure its functioning. This development was due to both the internal needs of the member states and the influence of external factors.

Blocks and departments (areas of work) of the EEC

Blocks (areas of work) of the EEC (2016):

Departments of the EEC (2016):

• Department of Protocol and Organizational Support;
• Department of Finance;
• Legal Department;
• Department of Information Technology;
• Department for the Functioning of Internal Markets;
• Case Management Department;
• Integration Development Department;
• Department of Macroeconomic Policy;
• Department of Statistics;
• Department of Financial Policy;
• Department of Business Development;
• Department of Labor Migration;
• Department of Industrial Policy;
• Department of Agricultural Policy;
• Department of Customs, Tariff and Non-Tariff Regulation;
• Department of Internal Market Protection;
• Trade Policy Department;
• Department of Technical Regulation and Accreditation;
• Department of Sanitary, Phytosanitary and Veterinary Measures;
• Department of Customs Legislation and Law Enforcement Practice;
• Department of Customs Infrastructure;
• Department of Transport and Infrastructure;
• Department of Energy;
• Department of Antimonopoly Regulation;
• Department of Competition Policy and Public Procurement Policy.

Leading positions of the EAEU

The EAEU is the largest interstate entity in the world. Its territory occupies 20 million square meters or 15% of the world's landmass.

The EAEU is a leader in the production of oil (including gas condensate) and natural gas. In 2013, its share in global production of these energy resources was 18.4% and 14.9%, respectively. It ranks 3rd in total energy production (5.4%) and 4th in total coal production (4.8%).

The Union is the leader in the total production of potash fertilizers, it ranks 5th in steel production, and 3rd in cast iron.

The EAEU also occupies a leading position in the production of agricultural products. Thus, in 2013, it took 1st place in the cultivation of sunflower (for grain) and sugar beets, which represented 24.2% and 17.6% of the global level. In terms of the total number of potatoes grown, it took 3rd place (11.3% of the world total), 4th in grain (9.7%), 5th in grains and legumes (4.3%) and meat products (livestock and poultry for slaughter) - 3.2%, and in terms of the number of vegetables and melons collected, it ranks 7th (1.9%). In milk production at the beginning of 2015, the EAEU ranked 3rd (7% of world production).

The share of the EAEU population with access to the Internet at the beginning of 2015 was 59.4% of the population, which represents 4.4% of global Internet users.

Macroeconomic policy of the EAEU

Macroeconomic sustainability and convergence

Ensuring macroeconomic sustainability is based on the Basic macroeconomic indicators that determine the sustainability of economic development established by Article 63 of the Treaty:

• the annual deficit of the consolidated budget of the general government sector does not exceed 3 percent of gross domestic product;
• general government debt does not exceed 50 percent of gross domestic product;
• inflation rate (consumer price index) in annual terms (December to December of the previous year, in percentage) – does not exceed by more than 5 percentage points the inflation rate in the Member State in which this indicator has the lowest value.

Due to the slowdown in the growth of economic activity and trade, the decline in commodity prices on a global scale, as well as sanctions and counter-sanctions between the Russian Federation, the USA, the EU and some other states, the EAEU economy as a whole experienced an economic decline in 2014-2016 . In turn, this led to a deterioration in the economic sustainability indicators of the EAEU member states and all member states exceeding the threshold value for one or another indicator during this period. Accordingly, from 2014 to 2016, the Commission held consultations with all member states of the EAEU on the situation with exceeding one or another indicator of economic sustainability, and also developed recommendations in 2016 for the Kyrgyz Republic (on debt), for the Republic of Armenia (budget deficit), for the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Belarus (inflation).

Report: Long-term forecast of economic development of the Eurasian Economic Union until 2030

From a long-term development perspective, the report identified three possible scenarios:

1) Inertial (Extended status quo)

2) Fragmentary (Transit-raw materials bridge)

3) Maximum (Own center of force)

Potential integration effects include:

• Growth of mutual trade
• Growth in non-oil and gas exports and reduction in the share of imports from third countries
• Growth of foreign direct investment

The potential effect of integration on the level of economic development of the Union, defined as the difference between scenarios with the current and maximum level of integration (“Extended status quo” and “Own center of power”), is estimated at US$210 billion at current prices, or within US$140 billion at purchasing power parity in 2012 prices. The effect of participation in the Union by 2030 for member states is estimated at up to 13 percent of additional growth in gross domestic product.

The following have the greatest development potential within the Union:

1. In the area of ​​goods - production of pharmaceutical products and chemical products.
2. In the services sector, travel (covers goods and services purchased in a country during a visit by non-residents of that country for their own consumption or subsequent transfer to a third party) and transport services.

Indicators of integration and economic development of the EAEU

Direct investments in US dollars increased in all EAEU member states in 2012–2015. with the exception of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2015. At the same time, direct investment from other member states increased despite the 2015 recession in the EAEU, as well as despite a decrease in foreign direct investment in general (with the exception of the Kyrgyz Republic).

Despite the reduction in nominal volumes in 2014-2016 (which is largely explained by the decline in global commodity prices), it is necessary to note the increase in the share of mutual trade in the total volume of foreign trade in 2015-2016. This suggests that internal trade within the Union in crisis conditions turned out to be more stable than trade of the Union with third countries. The entry into the EAEU of the Armenian Republic and the Kyrgyz Republic also had a positive effect.

Since the formation of the Customs Union in 2010, the economic growth rate of this union has generally been quite good. They significantly exceeded the growth rate of the developed economies of the world. In 2011-2012 the integration effect even allowed the Customs Union to slightly exceed the world average in economic growth rates. However, falling prices for raw materials, slowdown in international trade growth and sanctions imposed between the Russian Federation and some Western countries led to a recession in the EAEU, which replaced the Customs Union. Today, the EAEU faces the task of returning to positive rates of economic growth.

Economic activity within the CU and the EAEU has had a positive impact on all participants in these economic associations. Gross domestic product per capita at purchasing power parity (in US dollars) in 2015 compared to 2010 increased in all Member States from 15 to 27 percent.

The current account balance of the balance of payments as a percentage of GDP has also improved, but this improvement reflects a decrease in capital account financing and exchange rate adjustments as a result of the crisis and at this stage cannot be a positive indicator of development. On the other hand, the weakening of the national currencies of the EAEU in 2014-2016. can contribute to the development of exports.

Forms of international cooperation of the EAEU

1. Full Membership

The full member states of the EAEU are: the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation.

1. Observer state status

Any state has the right to apply to the Chairman of the SEEC with a request to grant it the status of an observer state in the EAEU. And then the Supreme Council, taking into account the interests of developing integration and achieving the goals of the Treaty on the EAEU, makes a decision to grant such status or to refuse to grant it. Observer status gives the opportunity to authorized representatives of the observer state to attend meetings of the Union bodies by invitation, to receive documents accepted by the Union bodies that are not documents of a confidential nature. However, this status does not give the right to participate in decision-making in the bodies of the Union. At the same time, the observer state is obliged to refrain from any actions that could harm the interests of the Union and member states, the object and purposes of the Treaty on the EAEU.

1. Memorandum of Cooperation and Understanding

The purpose of the Memorandum is to create a platform for the comprehensive development of trade and economic cooperation, identifying and eliminating barriers to trade. Within the framework of the Memorandum, bilateral consultations are held with the involvement of experts, which can be actively used by the EAEU member states and partner states. The first Memorandum was signed with Mongolia in 2015. At this stage, this concept of cooperation has been implemented with Chile, Peru, Singapore and Cambodia. The plans include Mexico, Cuba, APEC, Andean Community of Nations, African Union, East African Community, Brazil, Moroca, Jordan, Thailand, Bangladesh.

1. Trade agreements of two types: free trade area (FTA) and trade and economic cooperation

The free trade agreement with Vietnam came into force in October 2016. The lecturer noted that at the moment it is too early to talk about the results of such interaction, but in a year it is planned to observe positive trends. Joint study groups (between the EAEU and the relevant country) studying the feasibility of starting negotiations on an FTA are working with South Korea and Egypt. Negotiations on the creation of an FTA are ongoing with Singapore, India and Serbia.

Another form of trade agreement (trade and economic cooperation) in the form of a “non-preferential trade agreement” is being worked out with China.

Status of implementation of trade agreements of the EAEU with third countries (March 2017):

Results of 2016 and plans for the future:

Dmitry Yezhov summed up his speech with the results of 2016, which was defined by the President of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev as “the year of deepening international cooperation of the EAEU”:

• international cooperation of the EAEU has successfully developed in such areas as Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa;
• imports from the Asia-Pacific Economic Community (APEC) exceeded imports from the European Union (EU) for the first time.

Literature:

1. Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union. Astana, May 29, 2014
2. Kofner Yu. Eurasian Economic Union in the global economy and prospects for its development. Moscow, 2016
3. Official website of the Eurasian Economic Commission [Electronic resource] // http://www.eurasiancommission.org/ Date of access: 04/24/2017.
4. History, logic, results and prospects for the development of the EAEU. Report of the EEC lecture at the National Research University Higher School of Economics [Electronic resource] // http://site/archives/2273
5. Macroeconomic policy of the EAEU. Report of the EEC lecture at the National Research University Higher School of Economics [Electronic resource] // http://site/archives/2524
6. Cooperation of the EAEU with third countries and international organizations.

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is an international integration economic association (union), the agreement on the creation of which was signed on May 29, 2014 and comes into force on January 1, 2015. The union included Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. The EAEU was created on the basis of the Customs Union of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) to strengthen the economies of the participating countries and “bring closer to each other”, to modernize and increase the competitiveness of the participating countries in the world market. The EAEU member states plan to continue economic integration in the coming years.

History of the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union

In 1995, the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and later joining states - Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan signed the first agreements on the creation of the Customs Union. Based on these agreements, the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) was created in 2000.

On October 6, 2007, in Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia signed an agreement on the creation of a single customs territory and the Customs Union Commission as a single permanent governing body of the Customs Union.

The Eurasian Customs Union or the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia was born on January 1, 2010. The customs union was launched as the first step towards the formation of a broader European Union-type economic union of former Soviet republics.

The creation of the Eurasian Customs Union was guaranteed by 3 different treaties signed in 1995, 1999 and 2007. The first agreement in 1995 guaranteed its creation, the second in 1999 guaranteed its formation, and the third in 2007 announced the creation of a single customs territory and the formation of a customs union.

Access of products to the territory of the Customs Union was granted after checking these products for compliance with the requirements of the technical regulations of the Customs Union that are applicable to these products. As of December 2012, 31 Technical Regulations of the Customs Union have been developed, which cover various types of products, some of which have already entered into force, and some of which will enter into force before 2015. Some technical regulations will still be developed.

Before the Technical Regulations came into force, the basis for access to the market of the member countries of the Customs Union were the following rules:

1. National certificate - for product access to the market of the country where this certificate was issued.

2. Certificate of the Customs Union - a certificate issued in accordance with the “List of products subject to mandatory assessment (confirmation) of conformity within the Customs Union” - such a certificate is valid in all three member countries of the Customs Union.

Since November 19, 2011, member states have implemented the work of a joint commission (Eurasian Economic Commission) to strengthen closer economic ties to create the Eurasian Economic Union by 2015.

On January 1, 2012, the three states formed the Common Economic Space to promote further economic integration. All three countries have ratified a basic package of 17 agreements governing the launch of the Common Economic Space (CES).

On May 29, 2014, an agreement on the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union was signed in Astana (Kazakhstan).

Tasks

Completion of the full implementation of the free trade regime, the formation of a common customs tariff and a unified system of non-tariff regulation measures

Ensuring freedom of capital movement

Formation of a common financial market

Harmonization of the principles and conditions for the transition to a single currency within the EurAsEC

Establishing common rules for trade in goods and services and their access to internal markets

Creation of a common unified customs regulation system

Development and implementation of interstate target programs

Creating equal conditions for production and business activities

Formation of a common market for transport services and a unified transport system

Formation of a common energy market

Creation of equal conditions for access of foreign investments to the markets of the Parties

Ensuring free movement of citizens of EurAsEC states within the Community

Coordination of social policy with the aim of forming a community of social states, providing for a common labor market, a common educational space, coordinated approaches to addressing issues of healthcare, labor migration, etc.

Approximation and harmonization of national legislations

Ensuring interaction between the legal systems of the EurAsEC states in order to create a common legal space within the Community

Interaction with the UN

22.01.2020

The Customs Union (CU) is an interstate agreement within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The CU involves the abolition of customs duties and similar payments in mutual trade between member countries of the union. In addition, the Customs Union unifies quality assessment and certification methods and creates a unified database on certain aspects of economic activity.

The conclusion of the Union is the basis for the creation of a single customs space on the territory of its members and the transfer of customs barriers to the external borders of the Union. Based on this, all countries in the customs area apply a single, coordinated approach to customs procedures and goods imported and exported across the borders of the Customs Union.

Also, throughout the territory of the Customs Union, equal rights for citizens of participating countries in employment are assumed.

The participants of the Customs Union currently (2016) are members of the EAEU:

• Republic of Armenia;
• Republic of Belarus;
• The Republic of Kazakhstan;
• Republic of Kyrgyzstan;
• Russian Federation.

Syria and Tunisia announced their intention to join the CU, and a proposal was voiced to admit Turkey into the Union. However, nothing is known about specific actions to implement these intentions.

The management and coordination bodies in the EAEU are:

• The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council is a supranational body consisting of the heads of state of the EAEU members;
• The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) is a permanent regulatory body of the EAEU. The competence of the EEC includes, among other things, issues of international trade and customs regulation.

It would be fair to say that the Customs Union is one of the stages of a plan to strengthen economic ties between some states in the territory of the former USSR. In a certain sense, this can be seen as the restoration of once existing economic and technological chains, taking into account new political and economic realities.

An important aspect of the Union’s activities has become the system of centralized distribution of customs duties paid when crossing the borders of the Common Economic Space.

• Russia accounts for 85.33% of the total;
• Kazakhstan receives - 7.11%;
• Belarus - 4.55%;
• Kyrgyzstan - 1.9%;
• Armenia - 1.11%.

In addition, the Customs Union has a mechanism for coordinated collection and distribution of indirect taxes.

Thus, in its current state, the Customs Union is a way of economic integration of the states that are members of the EAEU.

Official information about the Customs Union can be obtained on the website of the Eurasian Economic Union - eurasiancommission.org.

History of the creation of the vehicle

To better understand the prerequisites and goals of creating the Customs Union, it will be useful to consider the evolution of integration processes in the post-Soviet space:

• 1995 - Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia sign the first agreement on the creation of the Customs Union. Subsequently, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan joined the agreement;
• 2007 - Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia enter into an Agreement on a single customs territory and the construction of the Customs Union;
• 2009 - previously concluded agreements are filled with specific content, about 40 international treaties are signed. A decision was made to form a single customs space on the territory of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan from January 1, 2010;
• 2010 - the Unified Customs Tariff comes into force, a common Customs Code for three states is adopted;
• 2011 - customs control is removed from the borders between the CU states and transferred to their external borders with third countries;
• 2011 - 2013 - the development and adoption of legislative norms common to the countries of the Union continues, the first unified technical regulation on product safety appears;
• 2015 - Armenia and Kyrgyzstan join the Customs Union.
• 2016 - Entry into force of the Agreement on a free trade zone between the EAEU and Vietnam. Statement by the presidents of the EAEU countries “On the digital agenda of the Eurasian Economic Union.”
• 2017 - “White Book” of barriers, exemptions and restrictions. Signing and ratification of the Treaty on the Customs Code of the EAEU.
• 2018 - Entry into force of the Treaty on the Customs Code of the EAEU. Granting the Republic of Moldova the status of an observer country in the EAEU. Signing of the Agreement on trade and economic cooperation between the EAEU and the PRC. Signing of an Interim Agreement leading to the creation of a free trade zone between the EAEU and Iran.

It must be said that integration processes, with different speeds and results, were constantly going on throughout the period described. Legislation and customs tariffs in trade with third countries were gradually brought to general norms.

Goals of the Customs Union and their implementation

The immediate goal of the Customs Union was stated to be an increase in markets for goods and services produced by its members. The calculation was made, first of all, on the growth of sales within the Common Customs Space of the Union. This was supposed to be achieved by:

• The abolition of internal customs duties, which should contribute to the price attractiveness of products produced in the Union;
• Acceleration of the turnover of goods due to the abolition of customs control and clearance when moving them within the Customs Union;
• Adoption of general sanitary-epidemiological and veterinary requirements, uniform standards for the safety of goods and services, mutual recognition of test results.

To unify approaches to quality and safety, an interstate agreement was concluded on mandatory certification of products specified in the “Unified List of Products Subject to Mandatory Assessment (Confirmation) of Compliance within the Customs Union with the issuance of uniform documents.” For 2016, over three dozen regulations on requirements for the safety and quality of goods, works and services have been agreed upon. Certificates issued by any state are valid in all others.

The next goal of the Customs Union should be the joint protection of the internal market of the Customs Union, the creation of favorable conditions for the production and sale, first of all, of domestic products of the Union member countries. At this point in the program, mutual understanding between states turned out to be somewhat less than in matters of mutual trade. Each country had its own priorities in the development of production, while protecting the interests of neighbors sometimes had a negative impact on importing enterprises and the population.

Contradictions in the CU

The Customs Union united states with a common past, including economic, but a different present, primarily economic. Each of the former Soviet republics had its own specialization during the Soviet period, and during the years of independence there were many other changes associated with attempts to find its place in the world market and in the regional division of labor. Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, states equally distant geographically and in structure, have few mutual interests. But there are similar interests. Since Soviet times, the economic structure of both countries has been built in such a way that it requires a Russian sales market. The situation in Kazakhstan and Armenia is somewhat different, but for them, ties with Russia are extremely important, largely for geopolitical reasons.

At the same time, the Russian economy until the end of 2014 grew successfully due to high gas and other raw materials. Which gave the Russian Federation financial opportunities to finance integration processes. This course of action may not have promised immediate economic benefits, but it did suggest an increase in Russia's influence on the world stage. Thus, the Russian Federation has always remained the real driving force of the processes of the Eurasian unification in general and the Customs Union in particular.

The history of integration processes in recent decades looks like a series of compromises between Russia’s influence and the interests of its neighbors. For example, Belarus has repeatedly stated that it is not the Customs Union itself that is important to it, but a single economic space with equal prices for oil and gas and access for enterprises of the Republic to Russian government procurement. For this purpose, Belarus agreed to increase tariffs on the import of passenger cars in 2010-2011, without having its own production of such products. Such a “sacrifice” also became the reason for the announcement of mandatory certification of light industry goods, which hit small retail trade hard. In addition, the internal standards of the Customs Union had to be brought into line with the norms, although Russia is a member of this organization (and enjoys the corresponding opportunities in international trade), and Belarus is not.

So far, the Republic of Belarus has not received the desired benefits in full, because... Questions about equalities with domestic Russian energy prices have been postponed until 2025. Also, Belarusian enterprises did not receive opportunities to participate in the Russian import substitution program.

It should be noted that the agreements of the Customs Union have many exceptions and clarifications, anti-dumping, protective and compensatory measures that do not allow us to talk about common benefits and equal conditions for all participants in the organization. Almost each of the CU states at certain points expressed their dissatisfaction with the contractual terms.

Despite the elimination of customs posts within the Union, border control between states remains. Inspections by sanitary control services also continue at internal borders. The practice of their work demonstrates neither mutual trust nor the declared unity of approaches. An example of this is the “food wars” that periodically arise between Russia and Belarus. Their usual scenario begins with non-recognition of the quality of products certified by the Belarusian side and leads to a ban on supplies to Russian consumers “until the deficiencies are eliminated.”

Advantages of the Customs Union

It is impossible to talk about achieving the goals declared at the conclusion of the Customs Union at the moment (2016), internal trade turnover between the CU participants is falling. There are also no particular advantages for the economy compared to the period before the agreements were concluded.

At the same time, there is reason to believe that without the agreement on the Customs Union the situation would have looked even more depressing. Crisis phenomena in each individual economy could have a greater scale and depth. Presence in the Customs Union gives many enterprises a comparative advantage in the intra-Union market.

The shared distribution of customs duties between the CU states also looks favorable for Belarus and Kazakhstan (initially, the Russian Federation claimed to transfer 93% of the total to its own).

The agreements in force in the Customs Union provide the opportunity for duty-free sales of cars produced in the territory of the Union in the industrial assembly mode. Thanks to this, Belarus received foreign investment in the construction of enterprises for the production of passenger cars. Until this time, such projects were not successful due to the small volume of the Belarusian sales market itself.

Practice of application of customs agreements

Studying the published information about the creation and functioning of the Customs Union, it is easy to notice that the declarative part, i.e. Ratified interstate agreements and general documents are mentioned much more often than specific figures for increasing trade turnover.

But the Union should obviously not be treated as a PR campaign. There is a noticeable simplification of the movement of goods, a reduction in the number of administrative procedures, and some improvement in competitive conditions for enterprises of the CU member countries. It is likely that filling the agreed upon uniform rules with economic content requires time and mutual interest not only between state institutions, but also between business entities within the Customs Union.

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