PMs of EAEU member-states attend EIC summit in Astana

    The meeting of the Eurasian intergovernmental council, which opened in Astana, is to mull the eventual formation of a commission to investigate the air accidents; digital agenda of the Eurasian Economic Union and a number of other topics, Kazpravda.kz reports.
    Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev, the heads of the governments of Russia - Dmitry Medvedev, Armenia - Karen Karapetyan, Belarus - Andrei Kobyakov and Kyrgyzstan - Sooronbai Jeenbekov gathered for it.
    The meetings of the intergovernmental council will be held in a narrow and enlarged format. In the narrow format, preparation of the EurEU digital agenda; establishment of the commission for the investigation of air accidents within the Eurasian Economic Union; progress of negotiations on the conclusion of an interim agreement leading to the formation of EurEU-Iran free trade zone; draft Agreement on pension provision in the EurEU member states, and a number of other issues will be tried.
    The enlarged meeting will discuss a number of agreements, including import customs duties, the use of trading platforms within the common electricity market, coordinated transport policy of the Eurasian Economic Union’s member states in air transport for 2018 - 2020 years.
    The current Session will pay special attention to the EAEU digital agenda implementation, goods tracking, as well as energy marketplaces.
    It is expected that the Eurasian Economic Commission will report on the progress of negotiations with Iran on a temporary free trade zone agreement, and development of the EAEU Pensions Agreement.
    One of the important issues on the agenda is mutual recognition of national driving licenses within the EAEU. Earlier this year Kazakhstan has amended its legislation on road traffic making it possible to use any of the EAEU member states' driving licenses to drive on the territory of the country.
    The Session in Astana will also discuss the possibility of the exporting member states using Russian seaports.
    The participants are expected to agree on the roadmap for the implementation of the main directions and stages of the EAEU air transport policy for 2018-2020 aimed at the formation of a common air transport market in the Union.
    President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has greeted members of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council at the meeting in the Akorda presidential residence today, Kazinform has learnt from the president's press service.
    In attendance at the meeting were Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan, Prime Minister of Belarus Andrei Kobyakov, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev and Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Tigran Sarkisyan.
    President Nazarbayev noted that the meeting of the Council of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Astana had coincided with EXPO-2017.
    "Heads of government have a great opportunity to visit their national pavilions as well as pavilions of other countries, including Kazakhstan. I would like to point out that the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) has been functioning for three years, the period characterized by hard times in global and national economies of the EAEU member states," Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
    The President of Kazakhstan emphasized that economic growth directly influences increase in trade turnover and improves relations between the member states.
    Nursultan Nazarbayev also said the EAEU is moving in the right direction and despite existing problems it is crucial to strengthen the EAEU. The governments, according to him, will play the key role in that respect: they should solve economic tasks and settle the problems between the EAEU member states.
    In conclusion, President Nazarbayev noted that today's session of the Council will greatly contribute to further development of the EAEU.
    At the Eurasian intergovernmental council (EIC) meeting, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev defined the priorities of Russia in the EAEU chairing, Kazpravda.kz reports.
    "During our chairmanship, we plan to focus on current issues, including the notorious exemptions and restrictions, strategic future tasks in such areas as export support, investment climate, labor standards and innovative agenda," the Russian government's chairman noted.
    Medvedev also touched upon the issues of EAEU interaction with other integration associations. He suggested inviting representatives of the CIS Executive Committee to the meetings of the intergovernmental council to work on building of partnerships and conduct trade negotiations. At the same time, according to the head of the Russian Government, it is necessary to actively discuss creation of free trade zones.
    Reported by the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda, Kazinform.