Beginning of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in expanded format

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues,

We have agreed that I will begin as the host party.

I would like to inform everyone who has joined us that we have just had a restricted-format meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, discussed topical issues pertaining to our association's activities, and made decisions on further deepening integration cooperation.

I would like to welcome the heads of the EAEU observer states who have joined the expanded meeting: President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez.

Our meeting today is timed to the 10^th anniversary of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union. This is truly a key instrument which the member countries used as guidelines and jointly made considerable efforts to deepen Eurasian integration, build a single market, and establish a unique supranational system of economic regulation.

By eliminating numerous trade and administrative barriers, we have achieved a high degree of freedom in the flow of goods. The five member countries have adopted common technical, sanitary, veterinary and phytosanitary norms and standards.

The Eurasian Union has proven its effectiveness in the face of new challenges, including those related to the sanctions policies pursued by some countries and the dismantling of many of the basic pillars of international trade.

We are constantly fine-tuning the EAEU institutions and mechanisms, thus making it possible to adapt to changes and develop dynamically, despite the downturn in the global economy.

We have managed to achieve tangible results in creating a favourable investment climate in the EAEU. This was facilitated by joint decisions to protect investments, support businesses, and guarantee entrepreneurs' rights.

Much has been done and is being done to promote industrial cooperation, import substitution and strengthen technological sovereignty of the member states. In particular, last year, at the initiative of the Russian presidency, a public-funding mechanism was launched for knowledge-intensive projects implemented by enterprises from the EAEU countries.

The EAEU has always paid considerable attention to food security and development of the member states' agro-industrial sector. Through joint efforts, we have successfully created conditions for autonomous, uninterrupted supplies of foods and essential agricultural products to the internal market.

Every year, the association's member states are expanding their cooperation in transport and logistics, with mutual freight traffic rapidly growing. The work was largely facilitated by additional efforts to upgrade border checkpoints and increase their capacity.

I would like to note the EAEU members' coordinated efforts to build a common transport system. The project for the major International North–South Transport Corridor, which will allow our countries to ship products directly to the ports of the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, is fully underway.

Importantly, we make use of the most advanced technologies for implementing transport and infrastructure projects within the EAEU, such as high-tech navigation seals used to track and control the cargo and ensure its safety, as well as electronic shipping documents and other digital solutions that are being introduced extensively.

In general, digitisation has become a priority on the integration agenda. The EAEU is successfully developing a unified information system that accumulates information on foreign economic activities. Unified standards have been introduced for electronic data exchange, as well as coordinated regulations for digital commerce. Mutual recognition of electronic signatures used by the EAEU countries would serve to increase the efficiency of the common market, making business processes faster and more convenient for entrepreneurs and consumers.

Another emerging and prospective area of activity is cooperation in environmental protection and combating climate change. At the expert level, the work has started to develop unified approaches to solving related pressing issues.

To be continued.

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