Observer state status at the EAEU

There are various formats of interaction between third states and the Eurasian Economic Union. One of the simplest formats is obtaining the observer status at the Union.

The Treaty on the EAEU dated May 29, 2014 (Article 109), stipulates that any state is entitled to request the Chairman of the Supreme Council to grant to it the Observer State status at the Union. Taking into account the interests of integration development and achievement of the objectives of the Treaty on the Union, the Supreme Council makes the decision to grant such status or refuse to grant it.

The observer status offers to authorized representatives of Observer States at the Union the possibility to attend the sessions of the bodies of the Union by invitation and receive non-confidential documents adopted by the bodies of the Union. However, this status does not grant the right to participate in decision-making in the bodies of the Union.

At the same time, the Treaty on the Union determines that any state obtaining the Observer State status at the Union shall refrain from actions that may compromise the interests of the Union and the Member States or the object and objectives of the Treaty on the Union.

On May 14, 2018, the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council approved the Regulation 'On the Observer State Status at the Eurasian Economic Union.' The Observer State status was first granted to the Republic of Moldova (Decision No. 8 of the Supreme Eurasian Council dated May 14, 2018).

Heads of the Eurasian Economic Union Member States decided to grantthe Republic of Cuba and the Republic of Uzbekistan the Observer State status at the EAEU at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council held on December 11, 2020. The presidents of these countries have previously put forward the initiatives to interact with the Union in that space.