Over the first year of its existence the organization has gained considerable political weight in the world arena. Now the EAEU includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgystan.
Belarus headed the new association in the first year of its operation, and made every effort to make the EAEU noticeable and effective.
Integration is the key factor in improving sustainability of our national economy. Moreover, Belarus has consistently and persistently advocated the removal of all barriers that still remain in mutual trade. Presidents of the Union met three times at the EAEU summits in order to adjust the development of the association.
Today the EAEU is one of the world's largest economic units with more than 180 million people. Over the first year a common market was formed with free movement of goods, labor and capital. Almost half of the service market of the Eurasian Economic Union is already working in accordance with common rules.
On January, 1, the first phase of liberalization of the transportation market started.
The EAEU is an economic union. However, the Union managed to gain a significant political weight in the world arena.
Less than six months after the launch of the EAEU the first agreement was signed on the establishment of a free trade zone between the Eurasian Union and Vietnam. Several dozens of applications from foreign countries have been submitted on facilitation of economic relations with the EAEU.
In 2016 Kazakhstan took the presidency in the EAEU. Nursultan Nazarbayev promised to strengthen the Eurasian Economic Union through closer cooperation with China and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.












