Belarus, Russia yet to reconcile two union programs out of 28 roadmaps
<p> MINSK, May 31 - PrimePress. Belarus and Russia need to agree upon two Union State programs – on the formation of the common gas market and harmonization of tax laws, Belarus Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makey said in an interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant. </p> <p> </p> <p> “Only two out of 28 Union State programs remain pending. These are programs on the formation of the common gas market and the harmonization of tax legislation. We have made very significant progress in drafting these two programs. Earlier the idea to develop a Union State program on improving tax legislation was completely rejected, while now the parties are consistently working on harmonizing tax legislation,” Makey said. </p> <p> </p> <p> In his words, the dispute is about the time frame: what should be up and running earlier or maybe everything should be launched at the same time. “These are technicalities that can be resolved. In any case, these programs will give a new impetus to integration. It is important to find win-win solutions based on the principles laid down in the Treaty on the Union State,” he added. </p> <p> </p> <p> The programs are expected to be approved by the Supreme State Council of the Union State scheduled for autumn. </p> <p> </p> <p> On 22 April 2021, Lukashenko informed during a meeting with Putin in the Kremlin that there were only two or three union programmes of economic nature remaining for Belarus and Russia to reconcile: “There are not many left, two or three very serious economic programmes, including taxation.” </p> <p> </p> <p> The governments of Belarus and Russia initialled a Union State integration program in September 2019 and approved 31 roadmaps in various areas. Draft roadmaps were expected to be coordinated by November 2020, and Lukashenko and Putin were supposed to approve the entire package of integration documents on December 8, 2019 during the events timed to the 20th anniversary of the Belarus-Russia Union Treaty of December 8, 1999. The signing of the package did not take place. Belarus said that the parties failed to reach accompanying agreements on Russian energy prices, compensation for Belarus’ losses resulted from the tax manoeuvre in the Russian oil industry, and removal of barriers to Belarusian commodities in the Russian market. Lukashenko said he would not endorse the roadmaps unless the above fundamental issues are finally resolved. End </p>
2021-06-01
Primepress
Belarus, Russia yet to reconcile two union programs out of 28 roadmaps
MINSK, May 31 - PrimePress. Belarus and Russia need to agree upon two Union State programs – on the formation of the common gas market and harmonization of tax laws, Belarus Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makey said in an interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant.
“Only two out of 28 Union State programs remain pending. These are programs on the formation of the common gas market and the harmonization of tax legislation. We have made very significant progress in drafting these two programs. Earlier the idea to develop a Union State program on improving tax legislation was completely rejected, while now the parties are consistently working on harmonizing tax legislation,” Makey said.
In his words, the dispute is about the time frame: what should be up and running earlier or maybe everything should be launched at the same time. “These are technicalities that can be resolved. In any case, these programs will give a new impetus to integration. It is important to find win-win solutions based on the principles laid down in the Treaty on the Union State,” he added.
The programs are expected to be approved by the Supreme State Council of the Union State scheduled for autumn.
On 22 April 2021, Lukashenko informed during a meeting with Putin in the Kremlin that there were only two or three union programmes of economic nature remaining for Belarus and Russia to reconcile: “There are not many left, two or three very serious economic programmes, including taxation.”
The governments of Belarus and Russia initialled a Union State integration program in September 2019 and approved 31 roadmaps in various areas. Draft roadmaps were expected to be coordinated by November 2020, and Lukashenko and Putin were supposed to approve the entire package of integration documents on December 8, 2019 during the events timed to the 20th anniversary of the Belarus-Russia Union Treaty of December 8, 1999. The signing of the package did not take place. Belarus said that the parties failed to reach accompanying agreements on Russian energy prices, compensation for Belarus’ losses resulted from the tax manoeuvre in the Russian oil industry, and removal of barriers to Belarusian commodities in the Russian market. Lukashenko said he would not endorse the roadmaps unless the above fundamental issues are finally resolved. End