Belarus-Russia Union State's future development tasks sketched out

Roman Golovchenko said: “Experts have drafted new main directions for implementing the Union State Foundation Treaty for the next three years. The draft is an organic continuation of the existing package of integration documents with Union State programs and is aimed at further reconciliation of the legal base of the sides, at enabling the operation of joint energy markets and the joint transport system of the Union State, at pursuing a common industrial policy, a reconciled agrarian policy, a reconciled tax policy, at forming common scientific and technological space, common information space, and at enabling equal rights of citizens of the Union State in the social sphere.”

In his words, it is necessary to ensure genuine, tangible integration of the Belarusian industrial policy and the Russian one as fast as possible. It is necessary to remove absolutely all barriers standing in the way of mutual access to procurement contracts and subsidies. To agree unified measures to protect the domestic market of the Union State, which will ensure rapid expansion of manufacturing cooperation ties and further increase in the manufacturing of joint products with a high degree of manufacturing localization.

“As part of this work we have to set ambitious goals. I believe we are already past the most complicated stages. We went through them decently. Now it is necessary to take systemic measures to increase technological independence – create our own technologies, which would be superior to foreign ones. While working on that, we have to tackle a set of tasks relating to the creation of the common IT landscape of the Union State, relating to priority usage of our own R&D products and the promotion of domestic software,” the prime minister noted.

Mutual recognition of digital signatures will give a powerful boost to the creation of the common digital space. “I am convinced that we are capable of reaching the signing of the relevant international agreement as early as the end of the year,” the Belarusian head of government added.

The governments also keep in mind long-range plans to enable direct flights between Belarus' capital city and Russia's cities with the population of over 1 million people. “I am convinced that the realization of this project will help not only increase tourist traffic but will contribute to the promotion of business contacts in various spheres and areas,” Roman Golovchenko said.

“It is impossible to raise living standards of our citizens without a proper level of food security. This is why it is necessary to put more efforts into shaping the legal field for implementing an effective, coordinated agrarian policy in the territory of the Union State of Belarus and Russia,” he added.

“Today's session reflects the intention of our governments to enhance and develop the Union State in a comprehensive manner. The agenda of the meeting is quite relevant. I am convinced that today's agreements and decisions will be bolstered by consequent concrete actions of the Belarusian government and the Russian one and will be implemented in full,” the prime minister stated.