Events

11 Dec 2020

Belarus pushes for more powers for Eurasian Economic Commission

MINSK, 11 December (BelTA) – The powers of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) should be expanded, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the summit of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on 11 December, BelTA informs.

“We initiated work to strengthen the powers of the Eurasian Economic Commission. However, so far it has made little headway. What kind of development can we talk about if the Eurasian Economic Commission is still not able to apply as an independent entity to the Court of the Eurasian Economic Union on controversial issues?” Aleksandr Lukashenko asked.

Reviewing the results of the EAEU’s work this year, the president noted that despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic the EAEU kept working to boost cooperation with international organizations. A number of events were held under trade agreements with China, Vietnam and Iran. Negotiations are ongoing to sign trade agreements with Egypt, Israel and India. Preparations are underway to launch negotiations on the liberalization of trade regimes with Indonesia and Mongolia.

“As part of the digital agenda, we are establishing a system of transport corridors. We keep cooperating in manufacturing, subcontracting and technology transfer. We also provide assistance in employment for citizens of the EAEU member states,” the head of state added.

Not all the points of the program of the Belarusian chairmanship were fulfilled due to objective circumstances, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. Some of the activities needed much more time than one year. However, the president is convinced that joint work in the proposed areas will continue next year. According to him, the tasks of the Belarusian chairmanship, aimed at strengthening and developing the EAEU, are in many respects consonant with the ideas of Kazakhstan that will take over the EAEU chairmanship for 2021 on 11 December.