Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 27 March (BelTA) – Belarus has great hopes for the development of the Eurasian Economic Union, BelTA learned from Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich during the solemn plenary session of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS IPA) in Saint Petersburg on 27 March.

Mikhail Myasnikovich remarked that the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly makes a great contribution to the development of the legal foundation of integration processes. The nature of the model laws and recommendations the body passes allows the member states to choose the way of integration that suits their specific abilities best. The Eurasian Economic Union has been formed thanks a lot to this approach, said Mikhail Myasnikovich. “Belarus has great hopes for the development of the Eurasian Economic Union. The Eurasian Economic Union lacks a parliamentary dimension, however, the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus believes that MPs cannot stay idle. The CIS Interparliamentary Assembly unites five countries, which are members of the Eurasian Economic Union. I think the CIS IPA could provide a more active influence on integration processes, could encourage the Eurasian Economic Commission to work more actively and responsibly,” said the head of the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament.

“The production sector is the driver of economic development despite my deep respect for other forms of economic activities. With this in mind the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Eurasian Economic Union should pursue a common policy or at least a coordinated policy. New long-term forms of interaction should be sought. These shortcomings lead to disputes between commercial entities, unfair competition among merchandise manufacturers. In turn, these disputes result in unnecessary losses and even political friction,” noted Mikhail Myasnikovich. In his words, the CIS IPA could counteract these trends.

“Joint efforts of our countries within the framework of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly will make a substantial contribution to the enhancement and development of interparliamentary cooperation in the future not only in the CIS space but on the global scale, too,” said Mikhail Myasnikovich.