Perizat RISBEK KIZI
On February 24-25, 2022, a regular meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (EIGC) was held in Kazakhstan. The meeting was attended by the heads of the Governments of the Republic of Armenia – N. Pashinyan, the Republic of Belarus – R. Golovchenko, the Kyrgyz Republic – A. Zhaparov, the Russian Federation – M. Mishustin, as well as the representative of the observer states, the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan A. Aripov.
What issues were discussed?
During the meeting, 15 issues were considered on trade and economic cooperation and the expansion of mutual trade between the Member States of the Union, the removal of barriers within the internal market of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), as well as the development of integration potential in certain sectors of the economy.
Documents signed following the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council
Prime Ministers of the EAEU countries signed 11 final documents at a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council. They provide for the further development of economic cooperation within the Union. Among the approved documents are:
- an order on the current state and prospects for the development of the EAEU integrated information system,
- an order on a joint project of member states of the Union for the implementation of accelerated container rail transportation of agricultural products “Eurasian Agroexpress”,
- an order on a roadmap to expand industrial cooperation in the field of civil aircraft manufacturing and others,
- a separate order is devoted to proposals to ensure sustainable economic development of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union.
In addition, the Prime Ministers signed an instruction on the participation of Uzbekistan in certain initiatives of the EAEU.
Russia and Kazakhstan discussed joint measures to prevent a decrease in trade turnover
Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin discussed with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev joint measures to prevent a decline in trade turnover. It is noted that during the meeting, the parties also discussed the prospects for the development of the Kazakh-Russian strategic partnership, paying special attention to strengthening trade, economic and investment cooperation, including through the Eurasian Economic Union.
EAEU as Russia’s measure to counter Western sanctions
The Ministry of Economic Development of Russia published a material on its official website, which described how the authorities plan to counteract Western sanctions that were recently introduced due to the escalation of the situation in Ukraine.
The ministry notes that the Russian Federation will continue to develop comprehensive integration with the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and will also increase cooperation with Asian countries.
The strengthening of ties within the EAEU as a measure against Western sanctions is also confirmed by the statements of the Russian Prime Minister. Thus, Mikhail Mishustin, at a meeting with Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko as part of the EAEU meeting, said: “Our meeting in Nur-Sultan is aimed at strengthening our integration ties in the EurAsEC format, ensuring the growth of commodity and economic cooperation in the interests of our peoples states. And, of course, not everyone likes it: Western countries are trying to divide us, to interfere. But here, with our presence, we are just at this difficult time telling everyone that we are together.”