OREANDA-NEWS. May 20, 2011. “Russia is firmly committed to working in this direction just as effectively as it did over the last two years, during which it essentially changed the paradigm of post-Soviet integration,” said the Russian prime minister.
Transcript:

Vladimir Putin: Ladies and gentlemen,

We have had a busy and fruitful day with a meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of Government and meetings in the EurAsEC Interstate Council and the Supreme Body of the Customs Union. The press was informed separately about the decisions made under the rubric of the Commonwealth of Independent States, so I will now report on the basic topics discussed by EurAsEC and the Customs Union.

My colleagues and I had a detailed discussion of issues pertaining to the development of our cooperation and integration, and we exchanged information on the socio-economic situations in our respective countries. We also analysed our countries' progress through the most trying stages of the global economic crisis.

We should note that when the crisis was at its peak, the EurAsEC countries worked smoothly and as a team in effectively drafting and implementing a package of anti-crisis measures. Last year, we consolidated a trend of improvement in practically all key macroeconomic indices, including increases in industrial output, investment in fixed capital, and so forth.

We have no intention of resting on our laurels now, and we will continue working to create the best possible conditions for business and economic activity. Our top priorities include the establishment of the EurAsEC Court – a specialised international judicial body for settling commercial and economic disputes. I think this decision is of critical importance because it concerns an essential element [of integration] without which any integrated structure cannot function normally. In the absence of a common court of law, it would be impossible to settle disputes and engage in normal economic activities. This point concerns not only our national companies but all those who operate within the jurisdiction of EurAsEC.

The meeting of the Customs Union also focused on the practical aspects of its full-fledged operation. I ask the media to pay particular attention to the following point: we analysed the shift of customs and other control from our interstate borders to the border of the Customs Union itself and assessed our readiness for this shift as well as its possible results. The managers of customs offices and sanitary inspections reported that they were prepared for the shift on July 1, as scheduled. All this is necessary for the Common Economic Space to come into force on January 1, 2012.

We are creating a common market with unified legislation and mutually coordinated social and economic policies – a market that will harmoniously use its member states' technical and cultural resources. This is quite a different level of integration than that towards which we were striving ten years ago. When we established EurAsEC, we said that we would attain the goals we are now acknowledging. The results will doubtlessly bring sizeable benefits to all the nations involved and make our markets more attractive to investors.

I would like to emphasise that the Customs Union and the emerging Common Economic Space are equally open to those partners who would like to join us. I am confident that we can fully use the potential of integration to create new jobs, promote trade, support joint infrastructure-oriented projects, and cooperate in industry and high technologies. Special attention should be paid to modernisation and improvement through innovation. We must pool our efforts as we work together to make our economies more competitive.

I would like to say in conclusion that Russia is firmly committed to working in this direction just as effectively as it did over the last two years, during which it essentially changed the paradigm of post-Soviet integration.

I remember how we used to talk and talk but nothing practical ever came of it. Today, things are quite different – I stress that again. We are eager to see – and I am, personally – that our CIS partners are coming to realise the benefits of closer integration, assess the current structures for its development – primarily the Customs Union and the eventual Common Economic Space – and take part in that process.