MINSK, 31 May (BelTA) – The future Eurasian Economic Union will require the removal of all the barriers that still exist. The statement was made by Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev at the plenary session of the Single Economic Space business forum on 31 May, BelTA has learned.
“Our new integration structure will require the removal of the barriers that still exist. It is very difficult to accomplish but if we want integration, we will have to go for it regardless of the losses that the economies of our countries will face. All of us should understand it, absolutely clear understanding is required,” stressed Dmitry Medvedev. “Russia understands it and is ready to face the cost, understanding that the final combined result will be better,” said the Russian Prime Minister.
Dmitry Medvedev urged to improve cooperation at the level of ministries and government agencies of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. If cooperation is not improved, then integration in the Single Economic Space will not happen, he believes. “We have to start with us and enable the conditions for our government agencies to come to terms instead of laying blame on each other. No normal Eurasian Union or Customs Union is possible if government agencies fail to learn how to come to terms,” stressed the Russian Prime Minister. He added that a lot had been done, the mechanism of synchronization is already operational, but a lot has yet to be done.
Dmitry Medvedev touched upon another topic: “We truly witness very important integration processes. This is why they attract colossal interest from foreign partners, who have their own expectations and feel some kind of jealousy. But it is our countries that closely monitor these processes, therefore enabling the right conditions to further our partnership is our goal”.
A memorandum with Ukraine was signed on 31 May. The Russian Prime Minister believes that similar memorandums with other countries are likely to be signed. “It is the first step, an important and necessary step, and we are glad for it. But it can become the last step if nothing else is done,” said Dmitry Medvedev. “We sincerely welcome it but we understand that if our partners really want to be part of the integration association we are building, the Eurasian Economic Union, then they have to make an entire set of very complicated decisions, which are sometimes unpopular. They must make all the decisions instead of some of them. And certainly, they cannot undertake obligations that rule out participation in the Eurasian economic space and the union”.
“If they fail to do so, then we will certainly stay friends, we will advance our bilateral relations, but it will not be a common market anymore. However, we hope that the relevant strategic decisions will be made,” concluded Dmitry Medvedev.
