MOSCOW, 1 December (BelTA) - Removal of non-tariff barriers, liberalization of access to financial markets, trade in goods and services, joint implementation of major transport infrastructure projects and many other things can serve as a basis for dialogue between the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union, Member of the Board, EEC Economy and Financial Policy Minister Timur Zhaksylykov said at the fourth Moscow international financial and economic forum “Eurasian Economic Union and the EU: search for new formats of cooperation”, BelTA learned from the press service of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC).
The interaction between the two largest economic integration associations is important as the European Union remains a major trading and economic partners of the EAEU. The EU countries account for over 50% in total exports of the EAEU member states. “Today, unfortunately, there is no such dialogue, which, in our view, is the reason for a fall in imports to the EAEU member states from the EU member states and their increase to the APEC states. The EU niche is very quickly being taken by other partners,” Timur Zhaksylykov noted.
In January-September 2016, the EU accounted for 41% of total imports to the EAEU member states, APEC for 42.1%. In January-September 2017 the share of the EU in total imports reduced to 40.3% and that of APEC countries, on the contrary, increased to 43.1%. However, the transition to a new round in the relations would require intensive and painstaking work of governments. “Active interaction between the two integration associations offers great opportunities for accelerating economic development of our countries,” Timur Zhaksylykov said.
