Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko: The pandemic has convinced even hardcore sceptics that we can be stronger only together

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MINSK, 11 December (BelTA) – The pandemic has convinced even hardcore sceptics that countries of the Eurasian Economic Union can be stronger only if they stand together. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement at a session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on 11 December, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted: “This session will end the year of Belarus’ presidency in the Eurasian Economic Union. We set out to accomplish quite ambitious goals from the start: all-round reinforcement of our union, harmonious development of the economies of the member states, and higher living standards of the citizens. The goals are universal and benefit all the participants.”

In his words, it is particularly of current interest this year that has been a true test of durability of healthcare, economies, and political systems of all the countries across the globe. “The pandemic has revealed the essence of economic unions and integration associations. In practice it convinced even the most hardcore skeptics that we can be stronger only if we are together. At the same time the coronavirus has demonstrated the true price of failing to fulfill previously reached agreements,” the head of state added.

During the session Aleksandr Lukashenko briefly summarized results of Belarus’ presidency in the Eurasian Economic Union in 2020. He reminded that several regulatory acts had been passed on the transition to a unified or common policy in agriculture, power engineering, and transport. Possibilities of using antidumping, compensatory, and special measures to protect economic interests of merchandise producers in the Eurasian Economic Union were considered. The sides went on with the reconciliation of approaches to principles and mechanisms of operation of the state regulation of the integrated forex market, the expansion of usage of the national currencies of the EAEU member states in mutual transactions, the work meant to reduce the use of foreign currencies in the EAEU economies, the establishment of the common transaction infrastructure and payment space.

Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out: “A number of measures were initiated to substitute imports in the manufacturing industry and agriculture. However, members of the union periodically violate agreements and submit proposals on the duty-free import of various third-country goods, which analogues are made inside the union. Revenues of our state budgets suffer because of that. In fact we support foreign manufacturers and discredit our joint work on advancing manufacturing cooperation and reducing dependence on import.”

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