EurAsEC to clarify integration processes

Heads of the Interstate Council of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) will discuss the further integration of Eurasia in Moscow, RIA Novosti reports.

The talks will be attended by presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Armenia, Moldavia and Ukraine will observe the process. This will be the first such meeting after the launch of the Single Economic Space of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan on January 1.

The meeting is expected to start a new integration stage, as agreed on at the summit in Moscow on December 19, 2011. The presidents will discuss the Eurasian Economic Commission, a supernational structure launched on February 1 to coordinate integration of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, members of the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space. They will discuss integration, unification of passport and visa control.

The EurAsEC was formed in Astana on October 10, 2000, and started operating on May 30, 2001. Its first members were Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Ukraine and Moldavia started observing the process in May 2002, Armenia joined them in January 2003. The International Aviation Committee and the Eurasian Development Bank are observers as well.

Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan formed the Customs Union to lift customs fees and most limitations to trade and unified rules for commerce with other states. They formed the Single Economic Space on January 1, 2012, a market for free trade of goods, services, capital and labour force, harmonization of norms, taxes, credit, monetary, financial and customs policy.

The Eurasian Economic Commission was formed within the framework of the Customs Union and Single Economic Space. It is similar to the European Commission and is a supernational executive structure. The commission is headquartered in Moscow, under supervision of Victor Christenko, former Russian Minister for Industry and Trade. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are welcome to join.

Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych will visit Russia on March 19-20. He plans to discuss cooperation. Experts say he arrived to improve ties with Russia.

Yanukovych’s previous visit was held in Zavidovo in autumn 2011. The sides agreed on all controversial issues and started preparing documents. But the process stopped in late 2011. Ukrainian experts say that it is because of the presidential polls in Russia. In February, Yanukovych announced his plans to visit Russia in March.

Vladimir Fesenko, head of the Center for Applied Political Studied “Penta”, believes that renewal of dialogue is the main goal of Yanukovych on his visits. He will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin before the inauguration. Fesenko noted that there is a new “trade war” about to start, mainly concerning sugar trade. The official’s highest expectations are agreement on a new algorithm of resolving controversial issues.