The Eurasian Union is able to demonstrate unity and ensure self-sustainability of the Union's economy. This statement was made today by our President at the summit of the EAEU leaders held online.
The message from Minsk to the partners was quite transparent: by working together, minimizing mutual pretensions and national egoism we can withstand anything and mitigate the consequences of the crisis. The position of Belarus is consistent. If we have decided to form a common market of energy resources, to remove barriers, to ensure food security in the union, then let us stick to the agreements. In addition, a common payment space for the EAEU, the use of science and high-tech image-making industries, and support for cooperation are important. As they say, everything will come in handy in the post-Soviet time, everything that contributes to the development of the EAEU countries and the economy.
The meetings of the EAEU leaders in late spring are almost a rule. And the reason is weighty: on May 29, the Treaty on the Creation of the Union was signed. It would seem that nothing can break this tradition. But the pandemic changed everything.
Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan:
It is clear that the pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in health systems and economies at the global and country levels. On the other hand, it has stimulated the rapid development of individual economic sectors: pharmaceuticals, health services, bioengineering and digital technologies. In this new environment, the most pressing question is how to overcome the consequences of the economic crisis and put the economy on the path to recovery.
Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus:
You can see the enormous pressure to which not only Belarus is subjected. We are also witnessing a systematic, well-thought-out long-running sanctions pressure on our states, especially on Russia. It is clear that to some extent the situation will affect all of us. It is only a matter of time. Trade relations, banking and financial sector, industrial cooperation and the established supply chains may come under attack. "It is obvious that the so-called collective West is not interested in strengthening of our union and strengthening of a new competitor in the world market. Therefore, we need to sensibly assess the negative impact of such pressure from the outside and already now think about measures to respond, from targeted increase in import substitution and mutual trade to, if necessary, the introduction of direct restrictive measures within the competence of the union. We can use these measures as our competitors in the West do in the event of an aggravated economic situation.
The same idea was mentioned in the speech of Honorary Chairman of the union Nursultan Nazarbayev. The West will certainly not be happy for the EAEU.
Nursultan Nazarbayev, Honorary Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Council:
We have been tested by the complexities both of a global nature and by the specific external pressures that are periodically exerted on parts of our union. There are forces which do not want close integration in our region. We should not give in to such pressure.
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia:
I would like to highlight the joint project to create a digital platform "Travel without COVID-19" implemented with the assistance of the Digital Initiatives Fund of the Eurasian Development Bank. I think our Armenian colleagues also came up with this initiative. The aim of the project is to facilitate the mutual travel of citizens of our countries, to significantly speed up procedures for crossing state borders while complying with sanitary norms and taking into account the current epidemiological situation. I share the concerns of Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko, when he speaks about today's restrictions. But for its part, Russia is striving and will be striving to improve conditions for foreign nationals coming to work for us, first and foremost from EAEU member states. In the near future we will be launching a unified internet system "Work without borders" and a mobile app for this purpose, which will make it possible to draw up all the documents required for employment online.
Need to adopt EAEU lending mechanisms for cooperative production
The Union has a strategy until 2025. If we adhere to it, we would be able to grow by 5 per cent a year. It is important to have a common EAEU payment space, to have access to the financial markets of the union states, and to support cooperative production. As they say, everything will come in handy in these post-Soviet times, anything that promotes the development of the EAEU states and the economy.
А. Lukashenko suggested dedollarizing domestic trade in hydrocarbons in the EAEU and to make maximum use of science and focus on joint image-intensive high-tech projects, and in general, to see where we can be useful to each other.
Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus
To achieve the goals set forth by the previously adopted strategy, it is very important to step up the process of forming common markets of energy resources. I support the work aimed to remove barriers, reduce exemptions and limitations, and prevent new barriers in the internal market of the Union. A certain pace of eliminating violations of union law was achieved last year, it should be maintained.
Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia's acting Prime Minister:
We attach importance to the formation of a common gas market of the union. We think it is necessary that not only approaches to pricing and tariff setting in the common gas market of the Union should be agreed upon in the framework of an international treaty, but also tariffs for transportation of gas from third countries for domestic consumption should be agreed upon on the basis of transparency and non-discriminatory approach.
The EAEU leaders have talked about forming a common gas market. Armenia and Kyrgyzstan spoke in unison with Belarus. There is a need for common approaches to tariff setting.
Igor Petrishenko, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus:
You know that a concept, a relevant program for the formation of the gas market has been prepared and adopted. This topic was outlined by the Belarusian party, by the President of our country back in 2018. The key aspects are equality of access to the gas market for all entities that are in the EAEU. At that time, the issues related to gas transportation tariffs were not finally agreed upon. The heads of states agreed that all these aspects will be reflected in an international treaty being prepared. At the proposal of our President, which was supported by all the heads of state, we have agreed that experts will adopt appropriate approaches to these key issues. The document proposed by Russia envisages different tariff setting for internal entities in Russia and entities in the Eurasian Economic Union countries. Our ministries, experts, on the government level should work towards it. And then the task is to submit an agreed document for discussion at the level of heads of state.
The EAEU also needs to take all measures to ensure its own food security.












