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Belarus in favor of curbing veto right in EAEU

MINSK, 13 May (BelTA) – Belarus is in favor of limiting the right to veto in the Eurasian Economic Union. Belarusian Economy Minister Dmitry Krutoi made the relevant statement on the air of the TV channel Belarus One, BelTA has learned.

The official mentioned Belarus’ proposals concerning the removal of barriers and restrictions in mutual trade. He mentioned the right to veto, which Eurasian Economic Union member states have used seven times over the course of five years since the union was established. “As a matter of principle, the existence of the right to veto does not contribute to the achievement of the common goal – the removal of all barriers,” Dmitry Krutoi said. He suggested that several areas should be determined where the right to veto must not be used.

The official reminded that in the past the Belarus president suggested introducing a moratorium on passing new legislation that discriminates against partners in the Eurasian Economic Union. “The idea is being discussed but to make it happen, it is necessary to amend the basic Eurasian Economic Union Treaty,” the Belarusian economy minister said. Two packages of amendments are under consideration. “We will certainly put forward the idea,” he noted.

Dmitry Krutoi stated that the mechanism the Eurasian Economic Union member states had agreed to use in order to remove mutual trade barriers is inefficient. In his words, out of the 17 hindrances, which were supposed to be removed in 2018-2019, only one has been. Belarus believes that the next cycle will inherit about 15 hindrances.

The economy minister summed up results of the sessions of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, which took place in Yerevan, Armenia on 29 and 30 April. Dmitry Krutoi remarked that the introduction of sectoral restrictions in mutual trade between the Eurasian Economic Union member states due to doubts about the safety or origin of commodities had been the most debated topic. Belarusian milk was mentioned among other things. “The most important thing is that the five countries have agreed that country-wide barriers for specific commodities must not be introduced. If there are some violations and their number rises, it is necessary to fix problems concerning individual companies and products instead of shutting off the entire country,” the economy minister underlined.

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