MINSK, 14 November (BelTA) – Belarus' MPs believe that country representatives to the EAEU agencies push for excessive protectionist measures. Protectionism of national economies was in focus of the parliamentary hearing to discuss legal and practical aspects of improving the investment climate in Belarus on 14 November, BelTA has learned.
Chairman of the International Affairs Commission of the House of Representatives of Belarus Valery Voronetsky stated that “representatives of member states to integration structures are busy pushing for protectionist measures for their own economies instead of taking care of interests and competitiveness of the entire EAEU”. The MP called for rectifying the situation, because this will benefit the integration project.
Valery Voronetsky called membership in the EAEU one of the most important factors enhancing the investment appeal of Belarus. “At the same time, we should admit that the economic union within the framework of the EAEU has not materialized yet,” he said pointing to the absence of unified economic, manufacturing, agricultural, transport and logistics policies and inadequate coordination in these fields.
“This has resulted in numerous constantly emerging barriers, exemptions and restrictions. Foreign investors producing high quality products in Belarus cannot always sell them on the territory of the EAEU. This is absurd, because this damages the investment appeal of Belarus and the entire union,” the MP said.
Taking part in the parliamentary hearing will be members of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic, heads of national and local government bodies, representatives of international organizations, investors, leading legal firms and experts. The goal of the event is to accumulate findings and views of government officials, business people and international experts in order to work out ways to streamline the legal framework for economic operation and to discuss relevant proposals aimed at improving business terms and boosting investment activity.
The parliamentary hearing is designed to work out recommendations for the parliament, the government, and other national and local government bodies.
