DUSHANBE, October 11, 2008, Asia-Plus — Issues related to laying legal foundation for a proposed new customs union within the area of the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) were a major topic of an October 10 session of the EAEC Interstate Council in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, presided over by its rotating chairman, President Emomali Rahmon.
During the session, it was announced that Belarus will formally take over as the rotating chair of the organization in 2009, with Belarus President Lukashenko serving as the chairman.
According to Belarus’ news agency BelTA, addressing the meeting, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko noted that Belarus believes the establishment of the customs union should have steady positive dynamics, however, the decision-making is very slow. Belarus believes it is advisable to suggest considering ratifying Customs Union creation agreements within six months since the signature date.
Belarus is in favor of adhering to the adopted plan of actions meant to form the Customs Union within the EAEC area and suggests keeping to the schedule in order to create a full-fledged Customs Union by 2010. Belarus has ratified all signed agreements concerning the Customs Union creation.
Russia’s news agency RIA Novosti reported that the EAEC Secretary General Tair Mansurov had said earlier that the customs union could be established in the first half of 2010. Russia”s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, ratified documents on forming the customs union on October 8.
According to the Tajik presidential press service, the session considered a draft plan of actions for 2008-2010 and further years on implementation of the main directions of development of the Community and further expansion of cooperation within the EAEC. In all, 15 issues were considered at the session. The delegates agreed to hold the next meeting of the Interstate Council of EAEC in Moscow in fall 2009.
We will recall that the EAEC delegates adopted a document on budget policy, providing the basis for a proposed new customs union and supporting the planned formation of a single economic and transport space, as well as a common energy market at the Dushanbe summit in October 2007. Representatives from Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia signed a package of agreements on the formation of a customs union commission and on establishing a common customs area.
The EAEC members are Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The initial concept of the Eurasian Economic Community was first proposed in October 2000, as a successor to the CIS Customs Union, when Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan signed a treaty on broad economic and trade cooperation. The organization was formally created with the ratification of that treaty in May 2001. The initial five-member group was further expanded in May 2002 when Moldova and Ukraine were granted observer status, and again in April 2003, when Ukraine and Armenia gained observer status. Uzbekistan joined the Community in 2006.
