Priorities of Belarus' EAEU Presidency

In 2020, the Republic of Belarus chaired the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

The priorities of the Belarusian chairmanship are indicated in the Address of the President of the Republic of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, to the Heads of the EAEU Member States, published on January 9, 2020.

The main goals are to complete elimination of barriers, reduction the number of exemptions and restrictions on the EAEU markets, prevention of the possibility of emergence of new kinds of obstacles, increasing the efficiency of the Union’s bodies, improving the institutional structure of the Union, strengthening the supranational competence of the Eurasian Economic Commission, increasing its responsibility and discipline.

The Republic of Belarus connects the further development of the EAEU with the accomplishment of the following most important tasks:

—  transition to a unified or common policy in the fields of industry, agriculture, energy, transport and others;

— completion of formation of common energy and transport markets of the EAEU;

— building of common financial market;

— expansion of industrial cooperation;

— strengthening cooperation in scientific, technical and innovative fields;

— alignment of business conditions;

— formation of a balanced agricultural market of the Union;

— acceleration of development of common technical regulations and modern standards for the Union countries;

— increasing mutual trust in the results of accreditation and reliability of conformity assessment;

— ensuring of consistency of state control/supervision mechanisms;

— transition to a unified policy of veterinary, sanitary and phytosanitary measures application;

— promotion of the digital agenda;

— common information policy development.

In the field of international activities it is planned to intensify the EAEU’s cooperation with international organizations and associations, including CIS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ASEAN, European Union, MERCOSUR, WTO, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, UN organizations, to facilitate integration processes in the Eurasian area and the joint development of transport and logistics infrastructure, including participation in projects of the Belt and Road initiative. Negotiation tracks for liberalizing trade regulations with third countries will be added.

It is planned to adopt the Strategic directions of Eurasian integration until 2025.

In the social field it is planned to focus on increasing effective employment and social security of working citizens, cooperation in the field of education, healthcare, promotion of a healthy lifestyle, involvement of young people in the processes of Eurasian integration, and interaction in other humanitarian fields.