21 December 2025, 19:33

Lukashenko: Belarus’ initiatives at EAEU pursued long-term priorities, not short-term interests

SAINT PETERSBURG, 21 December (BelTA) – The initiatives that Belarus put forward during its presidency in the Eurasian Economic Union were founded on long-term priorities rather than short-term interests, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, BelTA has learned.

The head of state noted that the outgoing year of 2025 marked the period of Belarus’ EAEU presidency. He emphasized that Minsk had consistently aimed to give the organization a new spirit and a renewed vision for the region’s economic processes.

“Belarusian initiatives were based not on short-term circumstances or national preferences, but on long-term priorities relevant to all member states,” stated Aleksandr Lukashenko.

The president emphasized that Belarus’ chairmanship coincided with the conclusion of the Eurasian Economic Union’s five-year development cycle. “In reviewing the implementation of the Strategic Directions for Economic Integration through 2025, we can confidently say that, despite immense external pressure on our countries, the Union has not only preserved but also enhanced its importance for strengthening the economic potential of its member states,” he said.

According to estimates, the EAEU’s GDP grew by 11% from 2020 to 2024, while industrial output increased by 15% and agricultural production by nearly 10%, the Belarusian leader reported. “While the Union’s unemployment rate stood at almost 6% in 2020, it was around 3% in 2024,” the president added.

Aleksandr Lukashenko further noted that the Union’s key economic indicators have continued their positive trajectory this year. “Wages are rising across all member states, and unemployment remains at minimal levels. By 2025, a solid foundation has been laid for a fundamentally new stage in Eurasian economic integration,” the head of state declared.

The president noted that the meeting’s agenda includes the signing of an action plan to implement the objectives of the Declaration on the Further Development of Economic Processes within the EAEU until 2030 and for the period up to 2045. Aleksandr Lukashenko called it EAEU 2.0 roadmap at the Minsk forum this June.

“It is essential that this comprehensive roadmap provides our Union with clear and workable guidance for the path ahead,” the head of state concluded.