Belarus, Russia approve 28 Union State programs

The Union State programs were approved at a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Union State of Belarus and Russia in Minks on 10 September, BelTA has learned.

““Today, we made a very important step towards creating the unified economic space from Minsk to Vladivostok by 2024. We approved the main guidelines to implement the Union State Treaty for 2021-2023 and 28 Union State programs, which will be submitted for approval of the Supreme State Council soon," Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said. “The implementation of these programs, in our opinion, will give a powerful impetus to mutual trade, to the development of joint ventures and coordinated measures to support national producers. We have set the framework for the joint assessment of economic and political risks in order to take timely response measures on this basis."

In the energy sector, Belarus and Russia have agreed on the gradual development of the unified markets for oil, gas, electricity, which will equalize the level of energy prices for Russian and Belarusian companies. The parties also agreed on a comfortable gas price for Belarus next year.

“According to our estimates, direct effect of the integration package for Belarus is projected at about $1 billion in GDP growth, not counting additional opportunities for Belarusian business in the Russian market. The social block of Union State programs is also significant. Special emphasis is placed on the harmonization of approaches to pension provision, social protection and support for certain categories of citizens, uniform principles of consumer protection," Roman Golovchenko added.

Mikhail Mishustin, Chairman of the Russian Government, noted that the Union State programs determine a clear trajectory of joint work in almost all areas, including in industry, finance, energy, agricultural industry, tax and customs regulation, monetary policy. They relate to the transport market, labeling of goods, payment systems, veterinary and phytosanitary control, consumer protection and unification of labor legislation. "In addition, we adopted a joint statement of the heads of government of Russia and Belarus regarding the fundamental tasks of Union State building. We expect that the decisions approved today will be signed off by the Supreme State Council," he added.