There has never been such a scandal at the summits of the Eurasian Union. This time the summit was held in St. Petersburg, and the key topic on the agenda was the signing by the countries participating in the Customs Code of the basic document regulating customs legal relations on the territory of the EAEU.

In general, a ceremonial protocol event was planned (the document had been prepared for several years, and all the main parameters had been agreed upon). It turned out differently.

At first, only three out of five countries signed the code: Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan refused to do so.

President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev said that negative aspects “at times prevail” in the cooperation of the EAEU countries and that this has a bad effect on the integration of the republic.

Later, Atambayev nevertheless approved the Customs Code. But he left behind an unsigned statement on building a joint external economic activity.

A year after the new Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union came into force, in 2018, a gradual reduction in the threshold for duty-free import of goods from foreign online stores into the countries of the union will begin. According to TASS, the first reduction is €500 in 2018. In excess of the norm of €500, a payment of 30% is provided, but not less than €4 per 1 kg. After two years from the date of entry into force of the code, a reduction to €200 is provided, beyond this - payment of 15%, but not less than €2 per 1 kg.

With the entry into force of the new document, the upper cost and weight thresholds for duty-free trade will become uniform for all countries. The parties, at their discretion, will be able to establish lower duty-free import standards at the national level.

Lukashenko was very busy

In total, four out of five members of the Eurasian Union have agreed on the Customs Code.

But the main blow to Eurasian integration was dealt by the head of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. He pointedly did not show up for the summit and remained in Minsk.

I was very busy with the meeting “On ensuring the safety of citizens during the New Year and Christmas holidays.” There were no official statements from Lukashenko with explanations.

The receiving party had to explain. Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that the absence of the de facto President of Belarus “will not prevent us from discussing substantive issues related to integration.”

He clarified that all documents had previously been fully agreed upon. And the signed package will simply be sent to Minsk, “so that Alexander Grigorievich can sign them there.”

“Those absent will later join, because no one had any comments,” it was agreed,” said President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Most likely, Lukashenko will sign the code after some time.

This has happened more than once in exchange for another portion of preferences from Russia.

Supplies are at stake this time. Russian oil and gas to Belarus. Minsk believes that a fair price for Russian gas is $73 per 1 thousand cubic meters. In Minsk they argued: due to the high price of gas, Belarusian goods turn out to be uncompetitive on the Russian market, which contradicts the principles and Union State Russia and Belarus, and the EAEU. Russia did not agree with this, citing the current contract, which fixed the price at $132 per 1 thousand cubic meters. But Belarus continued to pay new price and eventually owed Russia $340 million for gas.

The gas issue is also linked to a reduction in oil supplies to Belarus for processing. In the third quarter, Russia reduced oil supplies to Belarus from 5.3 million to 3.5 million tons. In the fourth quarter, supplies were planned to be further reduced by another 500 thousand tons.

According to the calculations of the Belarusian side, shortfalls in oil supplies could even undermine GDP growth. Instead of growing by 0.3% at the end of 2016, the country's economy may decline by 2%.

In addition, the head of Rosselkhoznadzor Sergei Dankvert presented two claims to Belarus: the country is re-exporting sanctioned products. And besides, it supplies low-quality milk to Russia.

It is not surprising that this time Lukashenko outdid himself - he refused to participate in the summit and sign the Customs Code.

“Lukashenko’s claims are inevitable, since the Belarusian leader is well aware of his advantage: his country borders the European Union, NATO countries and problematic Ukraine,” says Yevgeny Minchenko, director of the International Institute of Political Expertise.

Everyone is dissatisfied

According to experts, each of the member countries of the Eurasian Union has accumulated claims against Russia and the Eurasian idea as a whole. Although not each of them is as dependent on Russia as Belarus is.

Armenia has the least complaints about the Eurasian Union - there are no noticeable economic differences between the two countries.

“The main thing that Armenia received from membership in the EAEU was security guarantees in the protracted conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan and the preservation of the status quo Nagorno-Karabakh“says Alexey Portansky, professor at the Faculty of World Economy and International Politics at the National Research University Higher School of Economics.

So there is no point in expecting demarches like the Belarusian one from Armenia yet. If in Once again the situation in Karabakh will not worsen.

Not everything is so simple with Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan's entry into the EAEU was postponed five times.

When the republic was headed by Roza Otunbaeva, rapprochement with the European Union intensified. Since the end of 2011, Almazbek Atambayev has been in power in the country, his sympathies are certainly on the side of the Eurasian Union. But even in this case there are disagreements.

The population of Kyrgyzstan (5.5 million people) lives mainly on the re-export of Chinese goods. It reaches $10 billion annually.

The largest wholesale market is located on the outskirts of Bishkek Central Asia- “Dordoi.” Here are the lowest prices for clothes and shoes in the entire post-Soviet space - cheaper only in China, from where all this is supplied in gigantic volumes. The cheapness of goods is ensured primarily by low customs duties between Kyrgyzstan and China.

The China factor also leaves its mark on Russia’s relations with Kazakhstan.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is more flexible than Lukashenko. He, in fact, is credited with the authorship of the creation of Eurasia on the ruins of the post-Soviet space. But he is concerned about the loss of part of Kazakhstan’s sovereignty as a member of the EAEU.

Astana has more disadvantages than advantages from participating in the Customs Union, Nazarbayev was indignant back in the relatively prosperous year of 2013. Difficulties remain for the promotion of Kazakh food products, in particular meat and meat products, to the Russian market, there is no free access to the Russian electricity market, and opportunities for the transit of electricity are limited, the President of Kazakhstan listed.

“China is investing more in Kazakhstan than in Russia,” notes Portansky. And in this sense, Russia and Kazakhstan are competitors.

There is also room for disagreement regarding the Chinese megaproject - “ Silk Road" Russia and Kazakhstan are forced to compete here for Chinese investment.

It is normal that the integration process is going through such difficulties, the interests of the EAEU member countries are different, just as the weight of the economies is different, but it is possible to reach an agreement, Minchenko sums up.

TASS DOSSIER. Eurasian economic union- an international integration economic association whose members are Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

The union began work on January 1, 2015; replaced the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC, operated in 2000-2014).

Creation of the EAEU

The EAEU was formed on the basis of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan (until 2015 they operated within the framework of the EurAsEC). The creation of the Eurasian Economic Union was first announced by the Presidents of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev in the Declaration on Eurasian Economic Integration, signed on November 18, 2011 at a meeting in Moscow.

On May 29, 2014, in Astana, the heads of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus Vladimir Putin, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Alexander Lukashenko signed the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union (ratified by Russia on October 3, Kazakhstan and Belarus on October 9, 2014).

In 2011, Kyrgyzstan announced its intention to join the EAEU, and in 2013, Armenia. The agreement on Armenia's accession to the union was signed on October 10, 2014 in Minsk (in fact, the republic became a member of the EAEU on January 1, 2015). On December 23 of the same year in Moscow, Kyrgyzstan concluded a similar agreement. On May 8, 2015, in Moscow, members of the organization signed documents on Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the Treaty on the EAEU. On May 20, the agreement was ratified by the parliament of the republic, and signed by the president on May 21. By August 6, 2015, ratification procedures for Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the EAEU were completed; On August 12, 2015, the Treaty on Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the EAEU entered into force.

Organizational goals

According to the document, the goals of the EAEU are the economic development of the participating countries, modernization and increasing the competitiveness of these states in the world market. When signing the agreement, the parties undertook to coordinate economic policy and guarantee the free movement of goods, services, capital and labor, implement coordinated policies in key sectors of the economy (energy, industry, Agriculture, transport).

Structure and governing bodies

Supreme body of the EAEU is the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, which includes the presidents of the member states of the union. Its meetings are held at least once a year. The first since the start of the EAEU took place on May 8, 2015 in the Kremlin.

The heads of government of the participating states are members of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Economic Council. He ensures the implementation and control over the execution of decisions of the Supreme Council at the presidential level, gives instructions to the Eurasian Economic Commission, and also exercises other powers. Meetings are held at least twice a year. The first took place on February 6, 2015 in Gorki, at the residence of the head of the Russian government near Moscow.

The permanent regulatory body of the union is the Eurasian Economic Commission. Among its tasks: ensuring conditions for the functioning and development of the union, as well as developing proposals on economic issues of cooperation.

In 2015, the presidency of the EAEU was held by Belarus. On February 1, 2016, the chairmanship passed to Kazakhstan.

Statistics

Currently, the EAEU (including Kyrgyzstan) occupies an area of ​​more than 20 million square meters. km with a population of 182.7 million people (as of January 1, 2016). According to the Eurasian Economic Commission, the total gross domestic product of the EAEU member countries in January-September 2015 amounted to 1.1 trillion US dollars, decreasing by 3% compared to the same period in 2014. Volume industrial production in 2015 decreased by 3.4% ($907.1 billion). At the end of 2015, the volume of mutual trade of the EAEU member states amounted to $45.4 billion, which is 25.8% less than in 2014. The volume of foreign trade in 2015 compared to 2014 decreased by 33.6% - up to 579.5 billion dollars, including exports of goods - 374.1 billion dollars, imports - 205.4 billion. According to the official website of the organization, the EAEU countries produce 607.5 million tons of oil per year (or 14.6% of the world share), as well as 682.6 billion cubic meters. m of gas (18.4%).

On May 22, 2015, during the VIII Astana Economic Forum, an agreement was signed on the creation of the EAEU Business Council, the founders of which were the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan "Atameken", the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Confederation of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (employers) of Belarus, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (employers) of Armenia, Kyrgyz Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. The work of the Council will make it possible to establish a dialogue between the business circles of the EAEU member countries, as well as ensure their coordinated interaction with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and the leadership of states.

Creation of free trade zones

On May 29, 2015, in Kazakhstan, after a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Economic Council, an agreement on a free trade zone (FTA) between the EAEU and Vietnam was signed, which became the first international document on an FTA between the EAEU and a third party. The agreement provides, in particular, the conditions for tariff liberalization of trade in goods between the states of the Union and Vietnam by reducing or zeroing the rates of import customs duties on a significant group of goods. The document will come into force 60 days after it is ratified in all EAEU countries and Vietnam in accordance with national legislation.

October 16, 2015 in the Kazakh village. Burabay, at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, it was decided to begin negotiations on the creation of a free trade zone with Israel. In addition, negotiations are currently underway at the working group level on the possibility of concluding similar agreements with Iran, India and Egypt. Jordan and Thailand took the initiative to begin negotiations on the creation of an FTA with the EAEU.

In 2016, the countries of the Union plan to agree and sign with China a road map for connecting the projects of the EAEU and the Silk Road Economic Belt. The preparation of documents on this issue is currently being completed.

Cooperation with integration associations

On December 3, 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin, addressing annual message To Federal Assembly, spoke in favor of exploring the issue of creating a large-scale economic partnership between the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Shanghai organization cooperation (SCO) and the Association of States South-East Asia(ASEAN).

Meetings of governing bodies

Since the start of the EAEU, three meetings of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC) have taken place.

The first one has passed May 8, 2015 in the Kremlin. At the end of it, the presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia signed a protocol on amendments to the legal documents of the EAEU in connection with the accession of Kyrgyzstan to the organization. Agreements were also signed on free trade between the EAEU and Vietnam, on the start of negotiations with China on concluding an agreement on trade and economic cooperation, etc. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, following the results of bilateral negotiations on the sidelines of the summit, adopted a joint statement on interconnection creation of the EAEU with the Chinese project "Silk Road Economic Belt".

October 16, 2015 at a council meeting in the Kazakh village. For the first time, the President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev participated in Burabay as a full member. Following the summit, the leaders of the EAEU countries decided to begin negotiations with Israel on the creation of a free trade zone. In addition, the procedure for admitting new members to the organization, some aspects of Kazakhstan’s accession to the WTO, cooperation with China, etc. were discussed. The main directions were approved international activities Union for 2015-2016

December 21, 2015 in Moscow, at a meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union, a decision was made to transfer the chairmanship of the organization to Kazakhstan, the personal composition of the board of the Eurasian Economic Commission was determined in connection with the end of the term of office of the ministers of the commission (appointed every four years), a decision was made to conduct population censuses in the countries of the union in 2020 ., as well as the beginning of the development of “road maps” for cooperation with China. The parties discussed the entry into force of the free trade agreement between Ukraine and the EU on January 1, 2016 and the risks that may arise in this regard for the economies of the union countries. In particular, the leaders of the EAEU countries agreed to exchange information about all goods entering the union states and to create a unified database.

• Meetings of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Economic Council

The first meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Economic Council took place February 6, 2015 in Gorki, in the residence of the head of the Russian government near Moscow. The meeting of the prime ministers of the four EAEU member states was held with the participation of the head of government of Kyrgyzstan. Issues regarding the development of integration, the functioning of the EAEU, the development of the regulatory framework, as well as the upcoming entry into the union of Kyrgyzstan were discussed. Following the meeting, the heads of government ordered to develop a concept for the creation of a Eurasian engineering center for machine tool manufacturing, to provide funding for a pilot project to introduce uniform labeling of goods on the territory of the EAEU states, etc.

May 29, 2015 in the village A meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council was held in Burabay, Akmola region of Kazakhstan. Upon its completion, the EAEU and Vietnam entered into a Free Trade Agreement. The document was signed by the prime ministers of the countries of the Union and Vietnam. The agreement established the mutual obligations of the participants to simplify access of goods to the markets of the countries participating in this agreement. Customs duties will be reduced on 88% of mutual trade goods, of which 59% rates will be reduced immediately, and not yet 29% - gradually over 5-10 years. In a separate annex to the Agreement, Russia and Vietnam agreed to simplify market access in the services sector; later, if desired, other EAEU countries can join this annex.

September 8, 2015 In Grodno (Belarus), following the results of the regular meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, a number of documents were signed, including the decision “On the Main Directions of Industrial Cooperation within the Framework of the Eurasian Economic Union” and the Agreement on Coordination of Actions of the EAEU States to Protect Rights to Intellectual Property.

April 13, 2016 A regular meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council was held in Gorki near Moscow. The main strategic issues related to the development were discussed cooperation of the EAEU with the European Union and China, as well as the industrial policy of the Union and the activities of the EEC.

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.

Customs Union is an agreement adopted by the participants of the Eurasian Economic Union, the purpose of which is abolition of customs duties in trade relations. Based on these agreements, common ways of carrying out economic activities and a platform for quality assessments and certification are created.

Thanks to this it is achieved abolition of customs controls at the borders within the Union, general provisions for regulating economic activity for the external borders of the CU are concluded. In view of this, a common customs space is being created, using a generally accepted approach to border control. One more distinctive feature is the equality of citizens of the customs area during employment.

In 2018, the Customs Union consists of next members of the EAEU:

• Republic of Armenia (since 2015);
• Republic of Belarus (since 2010);
• Republic of Kazakhstan (since 2010);
• Kyrgyz Republic (since 2015);
• Russian Federation(since 2010).

The desire to become a party to this agreement was voiced by Syria and Tunisia. In addition, we know about the proposal to include Turkey in the CU agreement. However, to date, no specific procedures have been adopted for these states to join the Union.

It is clearly visible that the functioning of the Customs Union serves as a good help for strengthening economic relations between countries located on the territory of the former Soviet countries. We can also say that the approach established in the agreement by the participating countries speaks of restoring lost connections in modern conditions.

Customs duties are distributed through a single sharing mechanism.

Given this information, it can be stated that the Customs Union, as we know it today, serves serious tool for the economic unification of countries that are members of the EAEU.

To understand what the activities of the Customs Union are, it will not be amiss to gain an understanding of how it was formed to its current state.

The emergence of the Customs Union was initially presented as one of the steps in the integration of the CIS countries. This was evidenced in the agreement on the creation of an economic union, signed on September 24, 1993.

Step by step moving towards this goal, in 1995, two states (Russia and Belarus) entered into an agreement between themselves on the approval of the Customs Union. Later, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan also entered this group.

More than 10 years later, in 2007, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia signed a pact to unite their territories into a single customs region and approve the Customs Union.

In order to specify the previously concluded agreements, from 2009 to 2010, more than 40 additional agreements were concluded. Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have decided that, starting in 2012, a Common Market thanks to the unification of countries into one economic space.

On July 1, 2010, another important agreement was concluded, which put into motion the work of the Customs Code.

On July 1, 2011, the current customs controls at the borders between countries were canceled and general rules were established at the borders with states that are not in the agreement. Until 2013, uniform legislative norms for the parties to the agreement will be formed.

2014 – The Republic of Armenia joins the Customs Union. 2015 – The Republic of Kyrgyzstan joins the Customs Union.

On January 1, 2018, a new unified Customs Code of the EAEU. It was created to automate and simplify a number of customs processes.

Territory and management

The unification of the borders of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Kazakhstan became the basis for the emergence of the Single Customs Space. This is how the territory of the Customs Union was formed. In addition, it includes certain territories or objects under the jurisdiction of the parties to the agreement.

The limit of the territory is the border of the Customs Union with third-party states. Moreover, the existence of borders for individual territories located under the jurisdiction of the Union member states is normatively established.

The management and coordination of the Eurasian Economic Union is carried out by two organs:

1. Interstate Council- the highest body of a supranational nature, consists of heads of state and head of government of the Customs Union.
2. Customs Union Commission– an agency that deals with issues related to the formation of customs rules and regulates foreign trade policy.

Directions and conditions

By creating the Customs Union, the countries proclaimed main goal socio-economic progress. In the future, this implies an increase in trade turnover and services produced by business entities.

The increase in sales was initially expected directly in the space of the vehicle itself due to following conditions:

1. The abolition of customs procedures within the Union, which was supposed to make products produced within a single space more attractive, due to.
2. Increasing trade turnover by eliminating customs controls at internal borders.
3. Adoption of uniform requirements and integration of safety standards.

Achieving goals and perspectives

Having collected available information about the emergence and activities of the Customs Union, we can come to the conclusion that the results of increasing the turnover of goods and services are published much less frequently than news about the signing of new agreements, i.e. its declarative part.

But, nevertheless, analyzing the stated goals when creating the Customs Union, as well as observing their implementation, one cannot remain silent that simplification of trade turnover has been achieved and competitive conditions have been improved for economic entities of the Customs Union states.

It follows from this that the Customs Union is on the way to achieving its goals, however, in addition to time, this requires the mutual interest of both the states themselves and the economic elements within the Union.

The customs union consists of countries that have the same economic background, but today these states are very different from each other. Of course, in Soviet time The republics differed in their specialization, but after gaining independence, many more changes occurred that affected the world market and the division of labor.

However, there are also common interests. For example, many participating countries remain dependent on Russian market sales This trend is economic and geopolitical in nature.

Throughout the whole time leading positions in the process of integration and stabilization of the EAEU and the Customs Union played Russian Federation. This was possible due to its stable economic growth until 2014, when prices for raw materials remained high, which helped finance the processes launched by the agreements.

Although such a policy did not predict rapid economic growth, it still assumed the strengthening of Russia's position on the world stage.

The history of relations between the parties to the agreements is similar to a series of compromises that were built on the basis of the role of Russia and the positions of partner countries. For example, there were repeated statements from Belarus about its priorities: a single economic space with equal prices for oil and gas, access to Russian government procurement.

To achieve these goals, the Republic increased tariffs on imported cars in the absence of its own production. Because of such measures it was necessary to install rules for certification of light industry goods, which hurt retail trade.

In addition, the standards adopted at the CU level were unified with the WTO model, despite the fact that Belarus is not a member of this organization, unlike Russia. Enterprises of the Republic have not received access to Russian import substitution programs.

All this served as obstacles for Belarus on the path to achieving its goals in full.

It should not be overlooked that the signed CU agreements contain various exceptions, clarifications, anti-dumping and countervailing measures, which have become an obstacle to achieving common benefits and equal conditions to all countries. IN different time in fact, every participant in the agreement expressed disagreement with the terms contained in the agreements.

Although customs posts on the borders between the parties to the agreement were eliminated, border zones between countries have been preserved. Sanitary control at internal borders also continued. A lack of trust in interaction practice has been revealed. An example of this is the disagreements that flare up from time to time between Russia and Belarus.

Today it is impossible to say that the goals that were declared in the agreement on the creation of the Customs Union have been achieved. This is evident from the decrease in the turnover of goods within the customs area. There are also no benefits for economic development, when compared with the time before the agreements were signed.

But there are still signs that in the absence of an agreement the situation would deteriorate more rapidly. The manifestation of the crisis would be broader and deeper. Significant amount enterprises gain relative benefits by participating in trade relations within the Customs Union.

Methods for distributing customs duties among countries also indicate favorable trends for the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Kazakhstan. Initially, a large share was planned for the budget of the Russian Federation.

The agreements signed by the parties benefited the production of automobiles. Duty-free sales of cars assembled by manufacturers in participating countries have become available. Thus, conditions have been created for the implementation of projects that previously could not succeed.

What is the Customs Union? Details are in the video.

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 international association, aimed at the economic integration of a number of countries located in Europe and Asia. Currently, it includes only 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 previously existing 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 beginning of the reintegration of states in the open spaces former USSR marked the creation of the CIS. 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 European Union he named a hypothetical organization 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 the implementation of 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 force 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 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 works closely with EAEU states within other regional organizations and does not remain aloof from integration processes. Tajikistan is a member of the CIS, an organization collective defense The CSTO was at one time 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. On this moment 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 law in all countries to a single 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 is not so much pursuing economic goals, as much as it is political, but in economic terms it is not beneficial for all its members, including Russia.

Prospects

At the same time, the prospects for the EAEU with making the right choice the 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. Interest in establishing similar relationships The governments of Iran, China, India, Egypt, Pakistan and a number of other states also expressed their views.

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.