Lukashenko discussed preparations for Supreme State Council session with Mezentsev: implementation of Union State programmes should be given priority
The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, has met with the State Secretary of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, Dmitry Mezentsev, focusing in their conversation on the preparations for the Supreme State Council session and the implementation of the Union State programmes
The Head of State noted that the approximate agenda of a session of the Supreme State Council of the Union State has been determined, “No one forbids anyone to make proposals and changes, up to consideration and approval, including at the Supreme Council meeting. The implementation of the Union State programmes is the priority issue. We have always stated that we work well in this regard. The conversation will be serious and principled; moreover, we will hold talks with Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] in the so-called one-on-one format on the eve of this event, discussing fundamental issues. If any additions to the agreed agenda emerge, we will make these proposals in the course of the session.”
The President asked of the readiness of the Standing Committee of the Union State to host the Supreme State Council, as well as of the specifics of the upcoming meeting and possible difficulties.
According to Decree No. 6 of the Supreme State Council of the Union State as of November 4th, 2021, the governments of Belarus and Russia, as well as the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus and the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, have ensured the realisation of all measures of the 2021–2023 Guidelines for the Implementation of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State and also the measures envisaged by 28 Union State programmes. In particular, five integrated information platforms have been created, including on traceability and labelling of goods, transport, veterinary and phytosanitary control. Currency and customs regulations have been harmonised. Uniform rules for access to public procurement have been developed, approaches to the formation of a unified industrial policy have been identified, and measures are being taken to implement joint investment (import substitution) projects on the territory of the Union State. In addition, equal rights have been provided to citizens of Belarus and Russia in the social and labour sphere, and the permissive employment procedure has been abolished.
As part of the implementation of the Union State programmes, thirty-six international Belarusian-Russian agreements of various levels have been signed, and more than 20 acts of the bodies of the Union State have been approved.
In Belarus, 34 laws and decrees of the President of Belarus, 27 resolutions of the Council of Ministers, and 25 departmental legal acts have been adopted in order to harmonise legal regulation based on the analysis of the national legislation of the parties.
Work has been carried out to adapt the budget process to the current tasks of developing integration relations. Changes have been introduced into the procedures of formation and execution of the Union State budget, the development and implementation of its programmes and projects. Joint proposals have been developed to unify the norms of the civil legislation of Belarus and Russia governing economic activity in the Union State.
In 2023, six programmes of the Union State were implemented, including in the field of security. Thirty-five joint events have already been implemented at the expense of the Union State budget.
