Putin, Lukashenko discuss prospects for tax/ customs cooperation - Peskov
<p> MINSK, May 31 - PrimePress. Presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko of Russia and Belarus discussed the improvement of economic cooperation in the sphere of customs and taxation during the Sochi talks on May 29, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists. </p> <p> </p> <p> “They discussed the topic of improving economic cooperation in the sphere of such instruments as customs and tax authorities,” Prime news agency quoted Peskov as saying. </p> <p> </p> <p> In his words, the presidents spoke about improving the mechanisms of Russian-Belarusian cooperation in these areas. “And common approaches to the basic principles of the organization of customs and tax affairs were discussed,” Peskov said. </p> <p> </p> <p> Peskov clarified that “we are talking about the improvement and harmonization of common approaches in these important economic areas”. </p> <p> </p> <p> As previously reported, 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. </p> <p> </p> <p> By late April 2021 Belarus had initialled and sent 26 draft Union State programs on integration to the Russian side. Two more documents are still in the pipeline. The governments must agree on the entire package of union programmes before the meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, which is scheduled for autumn this year. End </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.” On May 6, Belarus Ambassador to Russia Vladimir Semashko said that the unification of tax and customs legislation is one of the most challenging integration tasks, which could take “at least 2-2.5 years”. End </p>
2021-06-01
Primepress
Putin, Lukashenko discuss prospects for tax/ customs cooperation - Peskov
MINSK, May 31 - PrimePress. Presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko of Russia and Belarus discussed the improvement of economic cooperation in the sphere of customs and taxation during the Sochi talks on May 29, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.
“They discussed the topic of improving economic cooperation in the sphere of such instruments as customs and tax authorities,” Prime news agency quoted Peskov as saying.
In his words, the presidents spoke about improving the mechanisms of Russian-Belarusian cooperation in these areas. “And common approaches to the basic principles of the organization of customs and tax affairs were discussed,” Peskov said.
Peskov clarified that “we are talking about the improvement and harmonization of common approaches in these important economic areas”.
As previously reported, 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.
By late April 2021 Belarus had initialled and sent 26 draft Union State programs on integration to the Russian side. Two more documents are still in the pipeline. The governments must agree on the entire package of union programmes before the meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, which is scheduled for autumn this year. End
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.” On May 6, Belarus Ambassador to Russia Vladimir Semashko said that the unification of tax and customs legislation is one of the most challenging integration tasks, which could take “at least 2-2.5 years”. End