In Astana (Kazakhstan) by the presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Came into force on January 1, 2015.

: Armenia (since January 2, 2015), Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan (since August 12, 2015) and Russia.

The population of the EAEU countries as of January 1, 2016 was 182.7 million people (2.5% of the world population). The gross domestic product in the EAEU countries in 2014 amounted to $2.2 trillion (3.2% in the structure of world GDP). Volume industrial production reached $1.3 trillion (3.7% of global industrial production). The volume of foreign trade in goods of the EAEU with third countries in 2014 amounted to $877.6 billion (3.7% of world exports, 2.3% of world imports).

The Eurasian Economic Union was created on the basis Customs Union Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus and the Common Economic Space as an international organization of regional economic integration with international legal personality.

Within the framework of the Union, freedom of movement of goods, services, capital and labor is ensured, the conduct of coordinated, coordinated or common policy in key sectors of the economy.

The idea of ​​creating the EAEU was laid down in the Declaration on Eurasian Economic Integration adopted by the presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan on November 18, 2011. It sets out the goals of Eurasian economic integration for the future, including the declared task of creating the Eurasian Economic Union by January 1, 2015.

The creation of the EAEU means a transition to the next stage of integration after the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space.

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.

Supreme body of the EAEU is the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC), which consists of the heads of member states. The SEEC 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.

Meetings of the Supreme Council are held at least once a year. To resolve urgent issues of the Union's activities, 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.

The implementation and control over the execution of the EAEU Treaty, international treaties within the Union and decisions of the Supreme Council is ensured by the Intergovernmental Council (IGC), consisting of the heads of government of the member states. Meetings of the Intergovernmental Council are held as necessary, but at least twice a year.

The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) is a permanent supranational regulatory body of the Union with headquarters in Moscow. The main tasks of the Commission 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 Union Court is a judicial body of the Union that ensures the application by member states and bodies of the Union of the Treaty on the EAEU and other international treaties within the Union.

The chairmanship of the SEEC, EMU and the EEC Council (the level of vice-premiers) is carried out on a rotational basis in the order of the Russian alphabet by one member state during one calendar year without the right of extension.

In 2016, Kazakhstan presides over these bodies.

The Union is open to entry by any state that shares its goals and principles, under conditions agreed upon by the member states. There is also a procedure for leaving the Union.

The activities of the Union's bodies are financed from the Union's budget, which is formed in Russian rubles through the share contributions of the Member States.

The EAEU budget for 2016 is 7,734,627.0 thousand rubles.

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Eurasian Economic Union (hereinafter - EAEU)- an international organization of regional economic integration, having 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.

IN 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 between Russian Federation, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Belarus concluded an Agreement on the creation of the Union. 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, Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation and 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. Most important events In the process of forming the Customs Union, there 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). On this moment The customs legislation of the EAEU is a four-level system:

Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union

Go to more high level integration required major changes in the legal 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.

Customs EAEU code contains a number of new provisions relating not only to the structure of the Code itself (the new EAEU Labor 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.

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 a first step towards the formation of a broader type European Union 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 different kinds 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).

On January 1, 2015, the EAEU began to function as part of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. On January 2, 2015, Armenia became a member of the EAEU. Kyrgyzstan has announced its intention to participate in the EAEU.

Economy of the Eurasian Economic Union

The macroeconomic effect from the integration of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan into the EAEU is created due to:

Reduced prices for goods due to reduced costs of transporting raw materials or exporting finished products.

Stimulating “healthy” competition in the common market of the EAEU due to an equal level economic development.

Increasing competition in the common market of the member countries of the Customs Union, thanks to the entry of new countries into the market.

Increase in average wages, thanks to reduced costs and increased productivity.

Increasing production due to increased demand for goods.

Increasing the well-being of the people of the EAEU countries, thanks to lower food prices and increased employment.

Increasing the return on investment of new technologies and products due to increased market volume.

At the same time, the signed version of the agreement on the creation of the EAEU was of a compromise nature, and therefore a number of planned measures were not implemented in full. In particular, the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and the Eurasian Economic Court did not receive broad powers to monitor compliance with the agreements. If EEC regulations are not followed, controversial issue is considered by the Eurasian Economic Court, whose decisions are only advisory in nature, and the issue is finally resolved at the level of the Council of Heads of State. In addition, pressing issues on the creation of a unified financial regulator, on energy trade policy, as well as on the problem of the existence of exemptions and restrictions on trade between EAEU members were postponed until 2025 or indefinitely.

Characteristics of the EAEU countries (as of 2014)

CountriesPopulation, million peopleSize of real GDP, billion US dollarsGDP per capita, thousand US dollarsInflation, %Unemployment rate, %Trade balance, billion US dollars
Russia142.5 2057.0 14.4 7.8 5.2 189.8
Belarus9.6 77.2 8.0 18.3 0.7 -2.6
Kazakhstan17.9 225.6 12.6 6.6 5.0 36.7

Source - CIA World Factbook

Governing bodies of the Eurasian Economic Union

The governing bodies of the EAEU are the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council and the Eurasian Economic Commission.

The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council is the highest supranational body of the EAEU. The council includes heads of state and government. The Supreme Council meets at the level of heads of state at least once a year, at the level of heads of government - at least twice a year. Decisions are made by consensus. Decisions made become mandatory in all participating states. The Council determines the composition and powers of other regulatory structures.

The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) is one permanent regulatory body (supranational governing body) in the EAEU. The main task of the EEC is to provide conditions for the development and functioning of the EAEU, as well as the development of economic integration initiatives within the EAEU.

The powers of the Eurasian Economic Commission are defined in Article 3 of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Commission of November 18, 2010. All rights and functions of the previously existing Customs Union Commission were delegated to the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Within the competence of the Commission:

  • customs tariffs and non-tariff regulation;
  • customs administration;
  • technical regulation;
  • sanitary, veterinary and phytosanitary measures;
  • crediting and distribution of import customs duties;
  • establishment of trade regimes with third countries;
  • statistics of foreign and domestic trade;
  • macroeconomic policy;
  • competition policy;
  • industrial and agricultural subsidies;
  • energy policy;
  • natural monopolies;
  • state and municipal procurement;
  • domestic trade in services and investment;
  • transport and transportation;
  • monetary policy;
  • intellectual property and copyright;
  • migration policy;
  • financial markets (banking, insurance, foreign exchange and stock markets);
  • and some other areas.

The Commission ensures the implementation of international treaties that form the legal basis of the Eurasian Economic Union.

The Commission is also the depository of international treaties that formed the legal basis of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space, and now the EAEU, as well as decisions of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

Within its competence, the Commission adopts non-binding documents, such as recommendations, and can also make decisions that are binding in the EAEU member countries.

The Commission's budget is made up of contributions from member states and approved by the heads of EAEU member states.

Possible new members of the Eurasian Economic Union

The main contenders for joining the EAEU are Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. In July 2014, news appeared that Armenia would sign an agreement to join the Eurasian Economic Union before September 10, 2014. There is information that negotiations between Armenia and the founding countries of the EAEU and the Eurasian Economic Commission have been completed. The agreement on Armenia’s accession to the EAEU is in the hands of the governments of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, where it is going through the necessary bureaucratic stages, and after the governments’ decision, the question of where the presidents of Armenia and the EAEU countries will meet to sign the agreement will be raised.

It is also reported that Kyrgyzstan may soon join the EAEU member countries. However, no specific deadlines have been set for this country’s entry into the EAEU (previously the date was announced - until the end of 2014). In addition, the population of the country, apparently, is not particularly keen to join the EAEU. This conclusion can be made based on civic activity during the collection of signatures for a petition in support of Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the Customs Union and the EAEU. To date, only 38 people have signed the appeal.

Russians are also suspicious of Kyrgyzstan's possible accession to the Eurasian Economic Union. This is evidenced by the results of a survey conducted by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM). According to researchers, only 20% of respondents were in favor of Kyrgyzstan joining the union, and Moldova had the same number of votes. The most desirable country that Russians would like to see as an ally turned out to be Armenia. 45% of respondents voted for it.

Every fifth person expects Azerbaijan and Moldova to join the EAEU (23% and 20%, respectively). Only 17% of survey participants are in favor of Uzbekistan joining the EAEU, and 14% of Tajikistan and Georgia each. Respondents were least likely to speak out in favor of attracting Ukraine to the Eurasian Economic Union - 10%. And 13% of respondents believe that the EAEU should not be expanded yet.

Public opinion poll in the CIS regarding integration

Since 2012, the Eurasian Development Bank (established in Russia and Kazakhstan) has been conducting regular surveys of the opinions of residents of individual states regarding Eurasian integration projects. The following question was asked to residents of individual countries: “Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia united in the Customs Union, which freed trade between the three countries from duties, and created a Single Economic Space (essentially a single market of the three countries). How do you feel about this decision?

The results of the total “profitable” and “very profitable” answers are given below:

As you can see, the idea of ​​​​creating a Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union is generally approved and looks “profitable” in the eyes of the majority of the population in almost everyone, with the exception of Azerbaijan, the CIS countries and even Georgia.

Meanwhile, the United States in its foreign policy oppose the Customs Union and the EAEU, arguing that this is an attempt to restore Russian dominance in the post-Soviet space and create a union like the USSR.

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 accepted principles of international law, including the principles sovereign equality 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 national interests 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 War II 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 - EurAsEC and CSTO, which, however, for a long time have not yet realized their full potential, 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 benefits 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 Common 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.

Simultaneously, from January 1, 2015, in a number of sectors identified EAEU states, a single market for services began to operate, within which service providers were given 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.

May 29, 2015 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 increasing trade turnover by 2020 allied states and Vietnam more than doubled. 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 a preferential agreement yet, but an important stage in development economic cooperation, which organizes the entire structure of relationships and creates the basis for further movement. Including with a view to possibly reaching an agreement on a free trade zone in the future. For effective organization In this regard, 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 allied countries approved the Main Directions of Economic Development of the EAEU until 2030 - an important document defining further coordination national politicians 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.

During the last four-year period, and especially actively in 2015 in connection with the acquisition by the Union international legal personality After the signing of the Treaty on the EAEU, the member states of the EAEU, 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 The EAEU economic cooperation strategy should also include direct dialogue between the Eurasian and European Commissions. The prerequisites for such a dialogue have been created.

In contrast to global crises, consistent and successful transformation continues Eurasian space on the market economic principles with the preservation of political independence and the existing 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 needed, 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 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):

Chairman of the Board Armenia
Member of the Board (Minister) for Competition and Antimonopoly Regulation Kazakhstan
Member of the Board (Minister) for the main areas of integration and macroeconomics Russia
Member of the Board (Minister) for Technical Regulation Belarus
Member of the Board (Minister) for Industry and Agro-Industrial Complex Belarus
Member of the Board (Minister) for Trade Russia
Member of the Board (Minister) for Economics and Financial Policy Kazakhstan
Member of the Board (Minister) for Internal Markets, Informatization,

information and communication technologies

 Armenia
Member of the Board (Minister) for Customs Cooperation of the EEC Kyrgyzstan
Member of the Board (Minister) for Energy and Infrastructure of the EEC Kyrgyzstan

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. By total number of potatoes grown, it ranked 3rd (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 (index consumer prices) 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, the fall in prices for raw materials, the slowdown in international trade growth and the 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 cannot be reflected at this stage. positive indicator 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 comprehensive development trade and economic cooperation, identification and elimination of 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):

A country Creation of a joint research group Start of negotiations FTA Agreement
Vietnam 2009 CCC decision SEEC decision of December 19, 2012 SEEC decision of May 8, 2015
Singapore Joint statement of October 26, 2016
India Council decision of March 28, 2014 Decision of the EEC Council of November 30, 2016
South Korea Council decision of October 18, 2015
Egypt Council decision of August 15, 2015
China SEEC decision to begin negotiations on concluding an agreement on trade and economic cooperation dated May 8, 2015.
Serbia SEEC decision on the start of negotiations dated May 31, 2016.

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.

On January 1, 2015, the Customs Union was replaced by the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The EAEU was established on May 29, 2014 in Astana, on which the CU member countries signed a corresponding Agreement. Let's consider what the features of the new union are in comparison with the Customs Union.

Composition of EAEU participants

The Union includes not 3 countries, as before (remember, initially these were Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan), but 5. On January 2, 2015, Armenia joined it. And on August 12, 2015, Kyrgyzstan joined the Union (report of the Eurasian Economic Commission dated August 12, 2015).

The Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union also determines the procedure for indirect taxation when exporting and importing goods, performing work, and providing services. Appendix 18 to the Treaty is dedicated to it. With the entry into force of the Treaty, international agreements signed within the CU, including protocols on taxation, lost force.

Generally, general rules taxation within the EAEU are similar to those in force under the Customs Union.

Read about the legal relationship between the provisions of the Treaty on the EAEU and the Tax Code of the Russian Federation. .

Export to the EAEU

Exporters can apply zero VAT rate (excise tax exemption) subject to confirmation of export necessary documents(paragraphs 3, 4 of Appendix 18). The list of documents itself actually remained the same. At the same time, it became possible, instead of an application for import, to submit a list of such applications containing details and information from those applications, information about which was received by tax authority(Subclause 3, Clause 4 of Appendix 18). The deadline for export confirmation has not changed - 180 calendar days from the date of shipment (clause 5 of Appendix 18).

To find out which document does not need to be submitted to the Federal Tax Service to confirm your right to a zero tax rate, read the article .

Import from the EAEU

Importers also pay taxes upon import (clause 4 of article 72 of the Treaty, clause 13 of Appendix 18). At the same time, as before, the import exemption provided for by national legislation applies (Article 149 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation). Tax does not have to be paid if goods are imported in connection with their transfer within the same legal entity(Clause 6, Article 72 of the Treaty).

Among the significant innovations, it is worth noting the emergence of rules defining the taxation procedure:

  • when returning goods of inadequate quality (clause 23 of Appendix 18);

see also .

  • when the cost of imported goods increases (clause 24 of Appendix 18).

Read about the basic rule of deduction for goods imported from the EAEU in the material .

Results

The EAEU members are 5 states: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. The procedure for taxation when importing/exporting goods by importers/exporters to/from the territory of the EAEU member countries is regulated by Appendix 18 to the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union.