When was the customs union created? Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan

The idea was proposed by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. Back in 1994, he put forward an initiative to unite the countries of Eurasia, which would be based on a common economic space and defense policy.

Twenty years later

On May 29, 2014, in Astana, the presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on the Eurasian Economic Union, which came into force on January 1, 2015. The next day - January 2 - Armenia became a member of the union, and on August 12 of the same year, Kyrgyzstan joined the organization.

For twenty years, since Nazarbayev's proposal, there has been forward movement. In 1995, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus signed an agreement on the Customs Union, designed to ensure free exchange of goods between states, as well as fair competition among business entities.

Thus the first stone was laid for integration former republics USSR, based on deeper principles than those on which the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), created at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, was based.

Other states in the region have also shown interest in the Customs Union, in particular, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have joined it. The process smoothly moved to a new stage - in 1999, the countries participating in the Customs Union signed an agreement on the Common Economic Space, and in the following 2000, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan established the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC).

Things didn't always go smoothly. Disagreements arose between the states, but in the disputes a legal basis for cooperation was born - in 2010, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Kazakhstan signed 17 basic international treaties, on the basis of which the Customs Union began to operate in a new way. A unified customs tariff was adopted, customs clearance and customs control at internal borders were abolished, and the movement of goods in the territory of the three states became unhindered.

The following year, 2011, countries moved to create a single economic space. In December, a corresponding agreement was signed between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, which came into force on January 1, 2012. According to the agreement, not only goods, but also services, capital, and labor began to move freely on the territory of these countries.

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) became a logical continuation of this process.

Objectives of the Union

The main goals of the creation of the EAEU according to the agreement are stated:

  • creating conditions for sustainable development the economies of the states that have joined the organization, in the interests of improving the living standards of their population;
  • the formation within the framework of the union of a single market for goods, services, capital and labor resources;
  • comprehensive modernization, cooperation and increased competitiveness national economies in the context of the process of economic globalization.

Controls

The main body of the EAEU is the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, which consists of the heads of state of the organization’s members. The Council's tasks include deciding strategically important issues functioning of the union, determining areas of activity, prospects for the development of integration, making decisions aimed at realizing the goals of the EAEU.

Regular meetings of the council are held at least once a year, and extraordinary meetings are convened on the initiative of any member state of the organization or acting on this moment Chairman of the Council.

Another governing body of the EAEU is the Intergovernmental Council, which includes heads of government. Its meetings are held at least twice a year. The agenda of the meetings is formed by the permanent regulatory body of the Union - the Eurasian Economic Commission, whose powers include:

  • Transfer and distribution of import customs duties;
  • establishment of trade regimes in relation to third countries;
  • statistics of foreign and mutual trade;
  • industrial and agricultural subsidies;
  • energy policy;
  • natural monopolies;
  • mutual trade in services and investments;
  • transport and transportation;
  • monetary policy;
  • protection and protection of the results of intellectual activity and means of individualization of goods, works and services;
  • customs tariff and non-tariff regulation;
  • customs administration;
  • and others, in total about 170 functions of the EAEU.

There is also a permanent Court of the Union, which consists of two judges from each state. The Court considers disputes arising on the implementation of the main treaty and international treaties within the Union and decisions of its governing bodies. Both member states of the Union and individual entrepreneurs operating on their territory can apply to the court.

Membership in the EAEU

The Union is open for any state to join, and not only the Eurasian region. The main thing is to share its goals and principles, as well as to comply with the conditions agreed upon with the members of the EAEU.

At the first stage, it is necessary to obtain the status of a candidate state. To do this, it is necessary to send a corresponding appeal to the Chairman of the Supreme Council. Under his leadership, the council will decide whether or not to grant candidate state status to the applicant. If the decision is positive, it will be created working group, it consists of representatives of the candidate state, current members of the Union, and its governing bodies.

The working group determines the degree of readiness of the candidate state to accept the obligations arising from the fundamental documents of the Union, then the working group develops a plan of activities necessary for joining the organization, determines the scope of the rights and obligations of the candidate state, and then the format of its participation in the work of the bodies of the Union .

Currently, there are a number of potential applicants for candidate status to join the EAEU. Among them are the following states:

  • Tajikistan;
  • Moldova;
  • Uzbekistan;
  • Mongolia;
  • Türkiye;
  • Tunisia;
  • Iran;
  • Syria;
  • Turkmenistan.

According to experts, the most ready countries for cooperation in this format are Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Another form of cooperation with the EAEU is the status of an observer state. It is acquired in a similar way to the status of a candidate for membership and gives the right to take part in the work of the Council’s bodies and to get acquainted with accepted documents, with the exception of documents that are confidential.

On May 14, 2018, Moldova received EAEU observer status. In general, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, about 50 states are currently interested in cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union.

Of course, both customs authorities and business will experience problems of the transition period during the first period of the Customs Union’s functioning...

Andrey Belyaninov, Head of the Federal Customs Service of Russia
speech at an international conference in Moscow on October 22, 2009

Customs Union: concept and examples from world experience

The Customs Union is an interstate entity that involves the unification of the territories of the participating states, within which customs borders and customs barriers are eliminated, customs duties and administrative restrictions in mutual trade are not applied, which ensures the free movement of goods, services, capital and labor, the unification of internal legislation of the participating countries and the creation of supranational legal regulation contributes to the stability and growth of national economies.

The main tasks of states in the customs union are:

  • creation of a single customs territory within the borders of the united countries;
  • introduction of a regime that does not allow tariff and non-tariff restrictions in mutual trade, except for cases stipulated by special regulations;
  • complete abolition of customs controls at the internal borders of participating countries;
  • the use of similar mechanisms for regulating the economy and trade, based on universal market principles of economic management and harmonized economic legislation;
  • functioning of unified management bodies of the customs union.

Along the external border in trade relations with countries outside the customs union, it is assumed:

  • application of a common customs tariff;
  • use of uniform non-tariff regulation measures;
  • implementation of a unified customs policy and application of common customs regimes.

Integration economic associations, which are based on the abolition of tariff and non-tariff restrictions in mutual trade, are almost always beneficial for the countries participating in them. Such associations are well known in the world: the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA), which has included the USA, Canada and Mexico since 1994, is currently functioning successfully; the South American Common Market (MERCOSUR, 1991), whose members are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay; The Central American Common Market (CACM), formed in 1961, in which different time included Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica.

The most famous economic and political regional association - the European Union - is also based on a customs union, the formation of which began on January 1, 1958 and was completed by 1993, taking more than 30 years.

History of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan

The Agreement on the Establishment of an Economic Union of September 24, 1993, developed within the CIS, provided for the construction of a customs union as one of the stages of integration. Then, in 1995, the Agreement on the Customs Union was concluded between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, which was later joined by Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The parties to the Treaty on the Customs Union and Common Economic Space, signed on February 26, 1999, were Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and since 2006, Uzbekistan.

At an informal summit on August 16, 2006, the heads of state of the EurAsEC decided to form a customs union within the EurAsEC, according to which Kazakhstan, Belarus and Russia were instructed to prepare a legal framework.

A year later, on October 6, 2007, at the EurAsEC summit, a package of documents was approved and signed, which marked the beginning of the creation legal framework Customs Union (agreements on the creation of the Single Customs Territory and the formation of the Customs Union, on the Commission of the Customs Union, protocols on amendments to the Treaty establishing the EurAsEC, on the procedure for the entry into force of international treaties aimed at forming the legal framework of the customs union, withdrawal from them and joining them). In addition, an Action Plan for the formation of a customs union within the EurAsEC was approved.

It can be said that on October 6, 2007, the heads of the three countries for the first time implemented the idea of ​​a customs union on the territory of the CIS, creating the necessary regulatory framework for its functioning, and thereby moved on to its practical implementation.

The next stage in the formation of the customs union occurred in 2010:

  • from January 1, the united states began to apply a single customs tariff (based on the Unified Commodity Nomenclature) and uniform non-tariff regulation measures in foreign trade with third countries, and also streamlined tariff benefits and preferences for goods from third countries;
  • From July 1, customs clearance and customs control were canceled in the territories of Russia and Kazakhstan, and from July 6 – in the territory of Belarus. Also, on July 6, the Customs Code of the Customs Union (hereinafter referred to as the Customs Code of the Customs Union) came into force for our country.

And finally, the last one (on current moment) a milestone in the formation of the Customs Union was the date of July 1, 2011. It was then that customs control at the internal borders of the countries of the Customs Union was actually abolished. On the Russian-Kazakh section of the border, customs authorities cease customs operations and all customs control functions in relation to goods and vehicles crossing the Russian state border. On the Russian-Belarusian border, at notification acceptance points (PPU), the implementation of individual operations to control the transit of goods from third countries that remained until recently is terminated. The PPUs themselves are being liquidated. The functions of customs control in relation to goods and vehicles traveling to the territory of the Customs Union are now carried out by the customs services of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan at checkpoints on the external border of the Customs Union.

Thus, the customs union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia is built on the economic and territorial platform of the Eurasian Economic Community, has common governing bodies with it, a partial legal framework and parallel membership of these three countries in both organizations. The creation of a customs union is not the final goal of the EurAsEC countries; it represents only one form of integration on the way to a model of a single economic space. It is also expected that in the future it will include other EurAsEC member states. In turn, the Common Economic Space presupposes integration not only in the economic, customs, but also in the political sphere.

Positive aspects of the Customs Union

The creation of a customs union, compared to a free trade area, provides business entities originating from participating states with the following advantages:

  • reduction of costs for the creation, processing, movement, transportation of goods within the territory of the customs union;
  • reduction of temporary and financial costs related to administrative restrictions and barriers;
  • reducing the number of customs procedures that must be completed to import goods from third countries;
  • opening new markets;
  • simplification of customs legislation due to its unification.

Legal framework of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan

Documents came into force on January 1, 2010, establishing the general procedure for tariff and non-tariff regulation in the customs union, namely:

  • Agreement on Unified Customs Tariff Regulation dated January 25, 2008 (hereinafter referred to as the CCT Agreement);
  • Agreement on the conditions and mechanism for the application of tariff quotas dated December 12, 2008 (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement on tariff quotas);
  • Agreement on uniform measures of non-tariff regulation in relation to third countries of January 25, 2008 (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement on Non-Tariff Measures);
  • Agreement on the procedure for introducing and applying measures affecting foreign trade in goods in a single customs territory in relation to third countries dated June 9, 2009;
  • Agreement on licensing rules in the field foreign trade goods dated June 9, 2009;
  • Protocol on the conditions and procedure for application in exceptional cases rates of import customs duties other than the rates of the Unified Customs Tariff dated December 12, 2008 (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol on rates other than the Unified Customs Tariff);
  • Unified Product Nomenclature externally economic activity customs union (hereinafter referred to as ETN VED);
  • Unified customs tariff of the customs union (hereinafter referred to as the UCT);
  • Protocol on the provision of tariff benefits dated December 12, 2008 (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol on tariff benefits);
  • Protocol on the Unified System of Tariff Preferences of the Customs Union dated December 12, 2008 (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol on the System of Tariff Preferences);
  • List of developing countries-users of the system of tariff preferences of the customs union;
  • List of least developed countries– users of the system of tariff preferences of the customs union;
  • List of goods originating and imported from developing and least developed countries, the import of which is granted tariff preferences (hereinafter referred to as the List of goods originating and imported from developing and least developed countries);
  • List of goods and rates in respect of which, during the transition period, one of the member states of the customs union applies rates of import customs duties that differ from the rates of the Unified Customs Tariff of the Customs Union;
  • List of sensitive goods for which a decision to change the import duty rate is made by the Customs Union Commission by consensus;
  • The list of goods for which tariff quotas are established from January 1, 2010, as well as the volumes of tariff quotas for the import of these goods into the territory of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and Russian Federation;
  • A unified list of goods to which prohibitions or restrictions on import or export are applied by the member states of the Customs Union within the EurAsEC in trade with third countries and Regulations on the application of restrictions and other documents;
  • Agreement on the circulation of products subject to mandatory assessment (confirmation) of conformity in the customs territory of the Customs Union dated December 11, 2009;
  • Agreement on the Rules for Determining the Origin of Goods from Developing and Least Developed Countries of December 12, 2008;
  • Agreement on mutual recognition of accreditation of certification bodies (conformity assessment (confirmation)) and testing laboratories (centers) performing conformity assessment (confirmation) work dated December 11, 2009;
  • Agreement of the Customs Union on sanitary measures of December 11, 2009;
  • Agreement of the Customs Union on Veterinary and Sanitary Measures of December 11, 2009;
  • Agreement of the Customs Union on plant quarantine dated December 11, 2009;
  • Protocol on amendments to the Agreement on the principles of levying indirect taxes on the export and import of goods, performance of work, provision of services in the Customs Union of January 25, 2008, dated December 11, 2009;
  • Protocol on the procedure for collecting indirect taxes and the mechanism for monitoring their payment when exporting and importing goods in the Customs Union of December 11, 2009;
  • Protocol on the procedure for collecting indirect taxes when performing work and providing services in the Customs Union dated December 11, 2009.

The Agreement on the Customs Code of the Customs Union dated November 27, 2009 and, accordingly, the Customs Code of the Customs Union came into force on July 1, 2010 for Kazakhstan and Russia and on July 6, 2010 for Belarus.

Structure of the unified customs legislation of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan

In connection with the formation of the regulatory legal framework of the customs union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, the customs legislation of the participating states is changing. First of all, in addition to the current national legislation, two more levels of regulation have appeared: international agreements member states of the customs union and decisions of the Customs Union Commission.

According to paragraph 1 of Art. 3 of the Customs Code of the Customs Union, the customs legislation of the customs union is a four-level system:

  • TK TS;
  • international agreements of the member states of the customs union regulating customs legal relations;
  • decisions of the Customs Union Commission;
  • national customs legislation of the participating countries.

By virtue of clause 3 of Art. 1 of the Customs Code of the Customs Union for customs regulation, the customs legislation of the Customs Union is applied, in force on the day of registration of the customs declaration or other customs documents, with the exception of cases provided for by the Customs Code of the Customs Union.

When moving goods across the customs border in violation of the requirements established by the customs legislation of the customs union, the customs legislation of the customs union in force on the day the goods actually cross the customs border is applied.

If the day the goods actually cross the customs border is not determined, the customs legislation of the customs union is applied, in force on the day the violation of the requirements established by the customs legislation of the customs union is detected.

The basic document regulating customs legal relations within the customs union is the Customs Code of the Customs Union.

International agreements establish norms of customs regulation, which must be applied equally throughout the territory of the customs union. These are, first of all, the determination and control of customs value, rules for determining the country of origin of goods, rules on the provision of tariff benefits and preferences, rules for paying indirect taxes and some other general rules.

The Customs Union Commission makes decisions on the practical implementation of customs regulation: establishes the declaration procedure and the form of the customs declaration; procedure for applying customs procedures (lists of goods, deadlines for applying procedures); the procedure for maintaining registers of persons carrying out activities in the field of customs affairs; determines the forms of documents for customs purposes. Currently, these are more than 150 decisions on issues within the competence of the Customs Union Commission.

Legal regulation of collection of import customs duties

On modern stage The formation of the legal framework of the customs union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia continues to ensure the free movement of goods across the territory of the participating countries, the creation of favorable conditions for trade with third countries, and the development of mutual economic integration.

By the Decision of the Interstate Council of the EurAsEC dated November 27, 2009 No. 18 “On the unified customs and tariff regulation of the customs union of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation” (hereinafter referred to as the IGU Decision No. 18) from January 1, 2010 in order to create unified system customs and tariff regulation of trade between Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia with third countries, the CCT Agreement was put into effect; Tariff Quota Agreement; Protocol on rates other than ETT; Protocol on tariff benefits; Protocol on the system of tariff preferences.

The CCT is a set of rates of customs duties applied to goods imported into a single customs territory from third countries, systematized in accordance with the Unified Tax Code of Foreign Economic Activity (approved by the IGU Decision No. 18). According to the Protocol on Rates Other than the CCT, a higher or lower rate of import customs duty compared to the CCT rate may be applied to goods originating from third countries, in exceptional cases, based on a decision of the Customs Union Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) taken by in accordance with the Protocol on rates other than ETT.

At first current year the provision of tariff benefits became possible only in the cases established by Art. 5 and paragraph 1 of Art. 6 of the ETT Agreement, as well as on the basis of decisions of the Commission adopted by consensus. In addition, Art. 5 of the CCT Agreement determines that such benefits apply regardless of the country of origin of goods and can be expressed in exemption from import customs duties or a reduction in the rate of import customs duty. Some tariff benefits are enshrined in the Decision of the Customs Union Commission dated November 27, 2009 No. 130 “On the unified customs and tariff regulation of the customs union of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation” (hereinafter referred to as the CCC Decision No. 130).

Under the conditions of the unified system of tariff preferences of the Customs Union, introduced by Art. 7 Agreement on the ETT and the Protocol on the System of Tariff Preferences, to facilitate economic development In developing and least developed countries, for goods originating from developing countries that are users of this system and imported into a single customs territory, import customs duty rates of 75% of the rates established by the CCT are applied. In turn, for goods originating from least developed countries that are users of the single system of tariff preferences and imported into the single customs territory, zero rates of import customs duties are applied. For this purpose, IGU Decision No. 18 approved the lists of developing countries and least developed countries that are users of the system of tariff preferences of the customs union, as well as the List of goods originating and imported from developing and least developed countries.

The Agreement on Tariff Quotas establishes the possibility of using tariff quotas as a measure to regulate imports into a single customs territory individual species agricultural goods originating from third countries, using a lower rate of import customs duty in comparison with the rate of import customs duty in accordance with the CCT during a certain period for a certain quantity of goods (in physical or value terms). The decision of the CCC No. 130 also determined the List of goods in respect of which tariff quotas are established from January 1, 2010, as well as the volumes of tariff quotas for the import of these goods into the territory of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation.

According to the Customs Code of the Customs Union, the right to choose the currency in which import customs duties can be paid is limited: now they are paid in the currency of the member state of the customs union in which they are subject to payment and whose customs authority releases goods, with the exception of goods released in the customs procedure of customs transit , or on the territory of which the fact of illegal movement of goods across the customs border has been revealed (Article 84 of the Labor Code of the Customs Union).

Unlike national customs legislation, the Customs Code of the Customs Union does not allow any person to pay customs duties at the expense of own funds for the payer of customs duties. Now the payers of customs duties and taxes are the declarant or other persons who, in accordance with Art. 79 of the Customs Code of the Customs Union, international treaties and (or) legislation of the member states of the customs union impose such an obligation. The declarant is the person who declares the goods or on whose behalf the goods are declared (Article 4 of the Labor Code of the Customs Union).

According to Art. 84 of the Customs Code of the Customs Union, the authority to determine the form of payment of customs duties and the moment of fulfillment of the obligation to pay them (date of payment) is granted to the member state of the customs union in which such duties are payable. Taking into account the above rule regarding the currency of payment, the possibility of paying customs duties by converting the amounts of security for their payment deposited in foreign currency is actually limited.

In the Customs Code of the Customs Union, tariff preferences and tariff benefits are included in the concept of “benefits for the payment of customs duties.” Goods imported to the address of one recipient from one sender under one transport (shipment) document, the total customs value of which does not exceed an amount equivalent to 200 euros, determined at the rate established by law at the time of the obligation to pay customs duties, are exempt from import customs duties. a member state of the customs union whose customs authority releases such goods.

The Customs Code of the Customs Union provides for the possibility of changing the deadlines for payment of customs duties in the form of deferment or installment plan. Moreover, the grounds, conditions and procedure for changing such deadlines are determined by an international agreement of the member states of the customs union, and not by national legislation. For this purpose, an Agreement on the procedure for payment of customs duties was adopted, according to which a deferment or installment plan for the payment of import customs duties may be provided if damage is caused to the payer as a result of natural disaster; technological disaster or other force majeure circumstances; when there is a delay in the payer receiving funding from the republican budget or payment for the government order he has completed; when importing goods subject to rapid spoilage; when delivering goods under international agreements; when importing according to the list of certain types of foreign aircraft and their components approved by the Commission; when importing or supplying planting or seeding material, plant protection products, individual agricultural equipment, and goods for animal feeding to such organizations by organizations carrying out agricultural activities; when importing raw materials, materials, technological equipment, components, spare parts for use in industrial processing.

To credit import customs duties, a single account of the authorized body of a member state of the customs union is used on the basis of the Agreement on the establishment and application in the customs union of the procedure for crediting and distribution of import customs duties (other duties, taxes and fees having an equivalent effect) dated May 20, 2010 ( hereinafter referred to as the Agreement on the Procedure for Crediting Import Duties). This Agreement comes into force on the first day of the month following the month in which the depositary receives the last written notice through diplomatic channels on the implementation of internal state procedures by the parties.

According to Art. 89 of the Customs Code of the Customs Union, overpaid or collected amounts of customs duties are recognized cash, the amount of which exceeds the amounts payable in accordance with the Customs Code of the Customs Union and (or) the legislation of the member states of the customs union and identified as specific types and amounts of customs duties in relation to specific goods. Their return (offset) is carried out in the manner and in cases established by the legislation of the member state of the customs union in which their payment and (or) collection was made, taking into account the specifics established by Art. 4 Agreements on the procedure for crediting import duties. Refunds to the payer of the amounts of overpaid (excessively collected) import customs duties are carried out from the single account of the authorized body on the current day within the limits of the amounts of import customs duties received to the single account of the authorized body and credited on the reporting day, taking into account the amounts of refund of import customs duties not accepted by the national (central) bank for execution on the reporting day.

To regulate the issues of mutual recognition by customs authorities of documents confirming the acceptance of security for the payment of customs duties, an Agreement was adopted on certain issues of providing security for the payment of customs duties and taxes in relation to goods transported in accordance with the customs procedure of customs transit, features of the collection of customs duties, taxes and the procedure for transfer amounts collected in respect of such goods dated May 21, 2010.

In Astana (Kazakhstan) by the presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Came into force on January 1, 2015.

: Armenia (since January 2, 2015), Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan (since August 12, 2015) and Russia.

The population of the EAEU countries as of January 1, 2016 was 182.7 million people (2.5% of the world population). Gross domestic product in EAEU countries in 2014 amounted to $2.2 trillion (3.2% of global GDP). Industrial production reached $1.3 trillion (3.7% of global industrial production). The volume of foreign trade in goods of the EAEU with third countries in 2014 amounted to $877.6 billion (3.7% of world exports, 2.3% of world imports).

The Eurasian Economic Union was created on the basis of the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus and the Common Economic Space as international organization regional economic integration with international legal personality.

Within the framework of the Union, freedom of movement of goods, services, capital and labor is ensured, as well as the implementation of a coordinated, coordinated or unified policy in key sectors of the economy.

The idea of ​​creating the EAEU was laid down in the Declaration on Eurasian Economic Integration adopted by the presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan on November 18, 2011. It sets out the goals of Eurasian economic integration for the future, including the declared task of creating the Eurasian Economic Union by January 1, 2015.

The creation of the EAEU means a transition to the next stage of integration after the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space.

The main goals of the Union are:

— creating conditions for the stable development of the economies of the member states in the interests of improving the living standards of their population;

— the desire to form a single market for goods, services, capital and labor resources within the Union;

— comprehensive modernization, cooperation and increasing the competitiveness of national economies in the global economy.

The highest body of the EAEU is the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC), which includes the heads of member states. The SEEC considers fundamental issues of the Union's activities, determines the strategy, directions and prospects for the development of integration and makes decisions aimed at realizing the goals of the Union.

Meetings of the Supreme Council are held at least once a year. To resolve urgent issues of the Union's activities, extraordinary meetings of the Supreme Council may be convened at the initiative of any of the member states or the chairman of the Supreme Council.

The implementation and control over the execution of the EAEU Treaty, international treaties within the Union and decisions of the Supreme Council is ensured by the Intergovernmental Council (IGC), consisting of the heads of government of the member states. Meetings of the Intergovernmental Council are held as necessary, but at least twice a year.

The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) is a permanent supranational regulatory body of the Union with headquarters in Moscow. The main tasks of the Commission are to ensure conditions for the functioning and development of the Union, as well as to develop proposals in the field of economic integration within the Union.

The Union Court is a judicial body of the Union that ensures the application by member states and bodies of the Union of the Treaty on the EAEU and other international treaties within the Union.

The chairmanship of the SEEC, EMU and the EEC Council (the level of vice-premiers) is carried out on a rotational basis in the order of the Russian alphabet by one member state for one calendar year without the right of extension.

In 2016, Kazakhstan presides over these bodies.

The Union is open to entry by any state that shares its goals and principles, under conditions agreed upon by the member states. There is also a procedure for leaving the Union.

The activities of the Union's bodies are financed from the Union's budget, which is formed in Russian rubles through the share contributions of the Member States.

The EAEU budget for 2016 is 7,734,627.0 thousand rubles.

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

The EAEU Customs Union is positioned as a form of interstate integration. It represents a union of trade and economic relations of its member countries. Today these include Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.
The Customs Union (CU) involves the creation of a single customs territory for mutually beneficial trade cooperation. Her total area today it is more than 20 million km². The countries that are part of the union carry out joint actions in the field of customs policy, including regulating trade relations with other countries, showing collective agreed protectionism towards them.
Within the territory of the Customs Union, customs duties on all goods sold by participating countries have been abolished, that is, duty-free trade is carried out. There are no economic restrictions between states, however protective measures compensatory and anti-dumping nature still exist.
For third-party states, the Customs Union establishes common customs tariffs (UCT), and also applies other customs regulation measures in relation to them in the field of foreign trade policy.
The main goal of the CU is to promote the growth and development of the economies of those states that are part of this union. With its formation, a common market was formed with a population of more than 17 million people and a total GDP of almost $3 trillion.

Members of the Customs Union

The founders of the Customs EAEU Union and its first participants were Russia and the Republic of Kazakhstan, united in the field of trade and economic relations on July 1, 2010. And on the 6th they adopted the Customs Code of the Customs Union, which defined the borders of these states and Belarus as a single customs territory, which on that day joined the Customs Union.
On January 2, 2015, Armenia became a full member of the international community, having signed an agreement to join the Customs Union back in October 2014.
In addition, last year Kyrgyzstan also became a participant in this customs association. On May 8, documents on Kyrgyzstan joining the EAEU were signed in Moscow, and on August 12, the state officially joined the Customs Union.
In addition to the current CU member countries, there are also so-called candidates for membership. These are Syria, which announced its intention to join the union back in 2013, and Tunisia, which also expressed a desire to join (2015).

Governing bodies

The main governing body of the Customs Union is officially considered to be the Eurasian Economic Commission, abbreviated EEC. It coordinates foreign economic relations and the implementation of an agreed foreign trade policy.
The commission was created on November 18, 2011 by decision of the heads of 3 states: Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. The main documents that guide it in carrying out its activities are the agreement “On the Eurasian Economic Commission” and the agreement on the regulations of the EEC.
As a supranational governing body, the EEC is subordinate to the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. All decisions of the Commission are recognized as binding on the territory of all countries that are part of the Customs Union (and not only).

History of the Customs Union

1995 – The heads of state of Russia and Belarus (later joined by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) signed the first agreement on the creation of the Customs Union. However, this was only a prerequisite for the formation of the Customs Union, since in reality it was transformed into the EAEU.
2007 - In October (6th) in the capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, the leaders of 3 countries - Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus - signed an important agreement regarding the creation of a Single Customs Territory and the formation of a Customs Union.
2009 – Leaders of countries and heads of government adopted and ratified about four dozen international treaties, which became the fundamental documents of the Customs Union. On November 28, a meeting of the presidents of 3 states took place in Minsk, at which it was decided to create a Common Customs Space on the territory of Russia, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Belarus from January 1, 2010.
2010 – In January, a unified customs tariff for three states began to operate. In the spring of this year, the leaders of the participating countries were unable to agree among themselves on some issues related to the Customs Union, and as a result, the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation announced the possibility of the Customs Union starting to function without the participation of Belarus. Since the beginning of July, a unified Customs Code (CC) has come into force for the member countries of the Customs Union (including Belarus).
2011 – customs control at the internal borders of the union states was abolished. It was transferred outside the countries that are part of the Customs Union. Previously, a decision was made on the same transfer of transport control from the internal borders of Russia and Belarus. Migration control and border control remain.

Basic provisions

Export goods are not subject to VAT. And if the fact of export is documented, then the exporting country is exempt from paying excise duties, or the amount paid is reimbursed.
When importing to Russia imported goods from the Republic of Belarus and Kazakhstan, value added tax and excise taxes are transferred to the tax authorities of the Russian Federation.
When carrying out work and providing any services by foreigners on the territory of Russia, the taxation procedure (including the tax base, basic rates, benefits or complete exemption from tax payment) is determined by Russian legislation.
According to the agreements within the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space, Russia collects 85.33% of the amount of import customs duties into its budget, 7.11% is allocated to Kazakhstan, 4.55% to Belarus, 1.9% to Kyrgyzstan, 1.11% to Armenia. .

Liberalization of trade relations

According to Sergei Naryshkin, speaker State Duma The Russian Federation and about forty countries around the world want to become bilateral market participants in the free trade zone (abbreviated FTA) with the EAEU. The following agreements are currently in effect:
With Serbia
The free trade regime between Russia and Serbia was established in 2000.
In 2009, Belarus signed a free trade agreement with Serbia.
Kazakhstan established a free foreign trade regime with Serbia in 2010.
With CIS countries
In October 2011, most of the former Commonwealth countries, with the exception of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, signed the FTA Agreement. The date of entry into force of the document for Belarus, Ukraine and Russia is considered to be September 20, 2012. It was these states that were the first to ratify the treaty.
With the World Trade Organization
Despite initial concerns about possible contradictions between the Customs Union rules and WTO norms, by the end of 2011 everything was in order. in perfect order, and the main provisions of the Customs Union were fully consistent with the standards of the World Trade Organization.
The main provisions of the WTO were recognized as having higher priority than the rules and regulations of the Customs Union. Thus, in connection with the accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO in August 2012, the Common Customs Tariff in force for the CU member countries was slightly changed, since Russia’s new obligations to the World Trade Organization were taken into account. At the same time, import duties remained virtually unchanged.

Possible expansion of the vehicle

Official representatives of the states that are part of the Customs Union have repeatedly pointed out the openness of the association for other interested countries to join it. First of all, this applies to the former CIS republics and EurAsEC states.
Countries of the former CIS that have not joined the EurAsEC
– Azerbaijan
In 2012, the head of the Azerbaijan Customs Committee A. Aliyev announced that the state does not intend to join the Customs Union. At the same time, Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation S. Naryshkin, returning after another visit from Baku, confirmed the fact that Azerbaijan is not discussing the issue of its entry into the Customs Union. However, according to him, the republic is closely monitoring the international integration project.
– Tajikistan
In 2010, the President of Tajikistan announced that the state was seriously addressing the issue of its entry into the Customs Union. However, in 2012 there was still no progress in resolving this issue. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic explained the inaction by saying that the authorities are actively studying the possible benefits of joining the Customs Union, and if Kyrgyzstan joins the union, then Tajikistan’s confidence in the advisability of joining the Customs Union will strengthen.
– Uzbekistan
At the end of 2011, I. Karimov, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, expressed his opinion on the EAEU Customs Union. He drew attention to the fact that this form of international integration may well go beyond trade and economic interests. And then, in his opinion, there is a high probability that the member countries of this association will begin to pursue personal political interests. This, in turn, may have Negative influence for cooperation of CU members with other partners not participating in the Customs Union, but with whom strong ties have already been established. At the same time, Karimov pointed out that the republic may be interested in international associations that help attract innovative technologies to the country's economy.
Former CIS countries that have concluded an association agreement with the EU
– Moldova
The 2014 parliamentary elections showed the following results: approximately 45% of voters supported Moldova’s accession to the European Union, voting for the democratic and liberal parties of the republic, and about 40% of voters supported the rapprochement of the state with the Russian Federation, giving their votes to the socialist and communist parties. At the same time, the socialists intended to terminate Moldova’s agreement with the European Union and planned to facilitate the republic’s entry into the Customs Union. That did not happen.
- Ukraine
In 2012, Russia for the first time invited Ukraine to become a member of the Customs Union. From the point of view of expediency, this would be beneficial for the country, because Ukraine’s entry into the Customs Union would allow it to receive supplies of Russian gas and oil at reduced tariffs. However, the Ukrainian parliament rejected all proposals of the Russian Federation on Eurasian integration in favor of the European Union. Ukraine limited itself to participating in the Customs Union only as an observer country. However, the subsequent political crisis in the country led to the fact that the head of state was removed from power in 2014 (the president at that time was V. Yanukovych), and the new government entered into a cooperation and association agreement with the European Union.
Republics unrecognized and partially recognized by former CIS countries
Among the republics partially recognized as friendly states, Abkhazia (02/16/2010) and South Ossetia(10/15/2013). Among the states not recognized by the Commonwealth, the following republics reported their desire to join the Customs Union: Transnistrian Moldavian Republic (02/16/2012), DPR and LPR (2014).
Countries outside the CIS and EurAsEC
– Syria
In February 2013, Syrian Minister Muhammad Zafer Mhabbak announced the country's government's intention to begin negotiations with the Customs Union on Syria's accession in the near future.
– Tunisia
More recently (2015), Tunisia also announced its desire to soon become a member of the EAEU Customs Union. This became known from the words of the Tunisian Ambassador to Russia.

The Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) is an international economic organization endowed with functions related to the formation of common external customs borders of its member countries, the development of a common foreign economic policy, tariffs, prices and other components of the functioning of the common market. Since its formation, five states have been members of the EurAsEC: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

In accordance with the statutory goals and objectives of the EurAsEC and guided by the principle of multi-speed integration, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia created the Customs Union in 2007-2010 and are systematically forming the next integration stage - the Common Economic Space (SES) of the EurAsEC, to which other states of the Community will join according to as far as readiness.

Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and RussiaThe Customs Union is a form of trade and economic integration of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. RIA Novosti infographics will tell you more about the main provisions of the CU, its current and potential members, as well as further prospects for economic integration.

A customs union is a form of trade and economic integration of the parties, providing for a single customs territory, within which customs duties and restrictions of an economic nature are not applied for mutual trade in goods originating from third countries and released for free circulation in this customs territory, with the exception of special protective , anti-dumping and countervailing measures.

In the Customs Union, the parties apply a single customs tariff and other measures to regulate trade with third countries.

The Chairman of the Board and members of the Board are appointed for a period of four years by decision of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council at the level of heads of state, with possible extension of powers. The board makes decisions by voting. Each member of the Board has one vote.

The activities of the EEC are structured according to functional areas, which are supervised by members of the Board (ministers). Each direction represents a block of industries and areas of economic activity. Members of the Board and departments of the EEC interact with authorized national authorities within the framework of their activities.

Currently, there are 23 departments operating within the EEC structure. 17 Advisory Committees have been created under them to develop proposals for the EEC Board and conduct consultations with representatives of national bodies state power. The chairmen of the committees are members of the Board (ministers) according to their areas of activity.

One of the most important principles activities of the EEC - maintaining a comprehensive dialogue with key partners. The first level of dialogue is interstate, which involves building effective interaction with national authorities in the process of developing and making decisions. The second level of dialogue is a direct form of work with the business community.

The EEC takes an active position in the international arena in order to represent the activities of the Eurasian community and engage in integration processes key partners from the European and Asia-Pacific regions.

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

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