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20 Jun 2025 Andrey Slepnev spoke at SPIEF 2025 sessions about e-commerce development and challenges of multipolar global economy On June 20, Andrey Slepnev, Minister in charge of Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission, spoke at the session Transnational E-Commerce: Putting New Rules in Place at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2025. "When we talk about e-commerce regulation in the Union, we are discussing two topics: internal e-commerce between the Member States and foreign e-commerce with third countries," he recalled. The EEC Minister noted that in terms of foreign e-commerce, unequal conditions for the activities of domestic retailers and far abroad traders, when duties and taxes are not paid and the rules of technical regulation are not observed, will largely go away once the ratification procedure for amendments to the Customs Code is completed. "As far as our domestic regulatory framework is concerned, there is the issue of the ratio of national and transnational platforms, which is well regulated in the draft Agreement on Electronic Commerce in Goods in the EAEU. Three pillars of non-discrimination are stipulated there: by sellers, products and platforms," told Andrey Slepnev. According to him, the purpose of the Agreement is to provide businesses with better conditions in terms of digitalization of documents, protection of consumer rights in the country of destination, coordinated operation of the Union-specific structure for selling goods, including sellers, marketplaces and buyers from different EAEU Member States. Andrey Slepnev dwelt separately on the advantages offered by the Union's preferential trade agreements with third countries. He emphasized that all partners are willing to cooperate on e-commerce, which provides possibilities for SMEs to promote the export of goods. Also on that day, the head of the EEC trade unit took part in the session Shaping a Multipolar Economy: the Role of Russia and Eurasia, where he emphasized that at the moment world politics largely determines economic and trade transformation. This is well illustrated by the figures: if in 2021 the share of Western countries in the EAEU trade amounted to 58%, in 2024 it was already 18%. Meanwhile, for the BRICS countries and Türkiye, it rose from 30% to 56% during that period. Against this background, the Eurasian Economic Union demonstrates a high potential for preferential trade. In this regard, Andrey Slepnev touched upon the issue of concluding a free trade agreement with Indonesia, "Yesterday we completed substantive negotiations with this largest country in Southeast Asia, whose population exceeds 280 million people. We still have a number of technical issues that we will hopefully resolve within two weeks. So there is every chance of signing the agreement with Indonesia before the end of this year." 

20 Jun 2025 Andrey Slepnev: "It is possible to create a market and fiscal system based on the principle of carbon footprint offset by accommodating the results of climate projects." This opinion was expressed by Andrey Slepnev, Minister in charge of Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission, at the session International Trade and Climate Regulation: Barrier-Free Solutions for BRICS, SCO, EAEU and APEC held by the EEC within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2025. "The system could be based on carbon footprint validation and offsetting, which implies higher costs for industrialized economies and lower such costs for developing countries where there are great possibilities for climate projects," the EEC Minister explained. As Andrey Slepnev noted, more international coordination is needed to ensure that national climate regulation does not turn into a trade barrier. In the case of the EAEU, the necessary measures are provided for in the Eurasian Economic Path Declaration. Thanks to them, the climate agenda should act as a driver rather than a brake on economic development. The EEC Minister also participated in the session Energy Sector Capital: Seeking Effective Solutions for Developing Nations, where he emphasized that only a reasonable combination of investments in green projects, net-zero emission projects and transit/transition technologies can make it to a rational approach, ensuring both technological transformation and decent economic growth rates. On the sidelines of the Forum Andrey Slepnev discussed bilateral trade and economic cooperation with Samir Abdelhafid, Minister of Economy and Planning of the Republic of Tunisia. It bears reminding that in January 2025, the parties established a joint research group to study the feasibility of concluding a free trade agreement between the EAEU and Tunisia. In addition, the head of the EEC trade unit held meetings with Dmitry Kim, CEO of Ozon Holding, and Tatyana Kim, founder of Wildberries, where the topics of e-commerce regulation in the EAEU were touched upon, as well as the possible entry of marketplaces into new promising foreign markets.

20 Jun 2025 Bakytzhan Sagintaev: "The Commission seeks to create better conditions for developing the real sector of the EAEU economies" Bakytzhan Sagintaev, Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission's Board, took part in the plenary session of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 20. The Head of the Commission's Board also spoke at the session Synergy in the EAEU’s Real Sector: Responding to Today’s Challenges. In his report Bakytzhan Sagintaev emphasized that the real sector plays an important role in the economy of each country of the Eurasian Economic Union, ensuring production of goods and services, offering employment and serving as the basis for sustainable development. "In 2024, industrial output in the Union increased by 4.5%. Mutual supplies between the EAEU countries increased by 8.1%, investments in fixed assets — by 7.5%," told Bakytzhan Sagintaev. For the progressive development of industrial cooperation within the EAEU, the Main Directions of Industrial Cooperation until 2030 are defined. "The main emphasis is placed on the development of cooperation ties between enterprises, including through the localization of joint knowledge-intensive ventures," noted the Head of the EEC Board. In conclusion, Bakytzhan Sagintaev outlined a number of challenges that, when addressed, will contribute to creating the necessary conditions for developing the real sector of the Union economies and increasing the volume of mutual and foreign trade. The priorities of each Member State of the Eurasian integration association are the basis of common efforts to ensure the dynamic development of the Union, as the Head of the EEC Board emphasized. These are economic growth, job creation, investment attraction, technological development and increasing the competitiveness of EAEU products in international markets.

20 Jun 2025 Goar Barseghyan: "Eurasian technology platforms have significant integration potential" Goar Barseghyan, Minister in charge of Industry and Agriculture of the Eurasian Economic Commission, spoke at the panel session Lighthouse Factories: Advanced Solutions for Industry in the EAEU at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The event was dedicated to the development of high-tech industries in the Eurasian Economic Union. The participants discussed the implementation of innovative projects, the creation of new enterprises based on artificial intelligence and robotics, as well as the prospects for technological development in the region. "In order to implement the task of technology development in the Eurasian Economic Union, there are the Eurasian technology platforms that are instruments for coordination of technological and innovative activities of the Union's countries, which have significant integration potential," Goar Barseghyan emphasized. The EEC Minister informed the session participants about the joint work of the Commission with the Member States on the creation of a new Robotics technological platform with the subsequent development of the Industrial Robotics interstate program. The initiative is primarily aimed at the development and introduction of digital technologies in the industrial complexes of the Union's countries. "In today's world, development of industry is impossible without digital technologies. We pay a lot of attention to this area, and active work is underway to create the Industry digital portal. It will become an efficient tool for establishing cooperative production chains and supporting business," Goar Barseghyan mentioned.

20 Jun 2025 Registration procedures for medicines in EAEU common market simplified On June 21, the amendments to the Rules for Marketing Authorization and Expert Examination of Medicinal Products for Human Use approved by the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission come into force. "These amendments are an important step to finalize the transition to a unified approach to marketing authorization of medicines in the Eurasian Economic Union. We strive to minimize administrative barriers for manufacturers and at the same time protect the interests of patients who should receive high-quality and safe medicines," mentioned Valentin Tataritsky, the EEC Minister in charge of Technical Regulation. The new provisions are aimed at harmonizing authorization processes in the Union countries, completing the work on the procedure for bringing marketing authorization applications in line with the EAEU requirements and ensuring patients' uninterrupted access to medicines. The amendments cover the procedure for bringing marketing authorization applications for medicinal products in line with the EAEU requirements and for conducting pharmaceutical inspections of manufacturers initiated in the course of authorization procedures. Also, in order to accelerate the transition to EAEU regulation, restrictions on the simultaneous performance of procedures for mutual recognition and making amendments to a marketing authorization application for a medicinal product have been removed.

20 Jun 2025 Ruslan Davydov: "Labelling and navigation seals are tools for regularizing the EAEU market" Ruslan Davydov, Minister in charge of Customs Cooperation of the Eurasian Economic Commission, spoke about the development of the labeling system in the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as the solutions that are being implemented and promising for market protection at the session The Social Impact of Labelling: Trust, Safety, Quality of Life, which was held as part of the SPIEF 2025 business program. According to the EEC Minister, the efficient integrated use of digital tools such as labelling and navigation seals, as well as a more detailed exchange of data between controlling authorities, will ensure transparency of the movement of goods from the moment of importation into the customs territory of the Union to the final consumer and will reduce the share of illegal turnover of products. In essence, these are tools for regularizing the EAEU market. Ruslan Davydov reminded that the Eurasian Economic Commission jointly with the Member States are working on the unification of requirements for arranging and equipping checkpoints on the Union customs border that are points of entry of foreign goods to the Union market. "Checkpoints should be equipped and modernized based on digitalization and application of breakthrough technologies, such as the Internet of Things, taking into account the best global practices," mentioned the Head of the Customs Unit of the Commission. The discussion participants agreed that the positive effect of labelling is obvious, and the expansion of its application will improve the quality of life in the EAEU.

20 Jun 2025 SPIEF 2025: possible ways of cooperation in customs field between EAEU and Europe discussed Possible prospects for cooperation in the field of customs between the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union were discussed during the session Dialogue with Europe: Is There a Future? at the 28th St. Petersburg Economic Forum. Ruslan Davydov, Minister in charge of Customs Cooperation of the Eurasian Economic Commission, took part in the event. "Over the past three years, due to Western sanctions, the EU's share in the EAEU's foreign trade has more than halved and the European companies that left have been replaced by their competitors from other parts of the world," Ruslan Davydov noted. At the same time, he stressed that customs authorities should still be guided by the slogan of the World Customs Organization "Borders divide, Customs connects". The EEC Minister reminded that the common tasks of the global customs community include simplification of customs formalities, acceleration of border crossing, digitalization of customs activities. All these issues are discussed in the World Customs Organization, the UN Economic Commission for Europe and other multilateral formats. Ruslan Davydov urged representatives of the business community, including those representing the interests of European businesses, to become more actively involved in the comprehensive consideration of relevant customs matters in advisory bodies within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

20 Jun 2025 Strategic partnership in agriculture discussed at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum Possibilities for long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation in the agricultural sector within the Eurasian Economic Union were assessed during the Russia-Armenia business dialogue at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. "The Union's food security level has reached 92%, confirming its economic sustainability. At the same time, there are still some segments where the Member States can strengthen the stability of the common agricultural market," stated Goar Barseghyan, Minister in charge of Industry and Agriculture of the Eurasian Economic Commission. In order to improve competitiveness, create conditions for steady economic growth of the industry and build efficient supply chains, the Commission, in cooperation with businesses, is working to expand the mechanism for financing cooperative projects to the agricultural sector. According to the EEC Minister, promising areas have been identified for implementation in such fields as selection and seed production, animal husbandry, processing of agricultural produce, as well as agricultural infrastructure. "The creation of such a financial instrument is a significant practical step to support initiatives of the real sector, allowing leveraging the scale of the Union's common market and utilizing technological and production competencies of our countries," Goar Barseghyan noted. In 10 years, agricultural production in the EAEU countries has grown by more than 25%, while mutual trade has doubled (up to $16 billion). Since Armenia's accession to the EAEU, the supply of agricultural produce has more than quadrupled, especially the categories of vegetables, fruits and processed products.

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