Lukashenko spoke about the main tasks and prospects of Eurasian integration until 2045

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, speaking at the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit in St. Petersburg, commented on the prospects for Eurasian integration up to 2045. The leaders were presented with a declaration on the main tasks and key directions for the further development of integration processes within the Eurasian Economic Union for the period up to 2030 and 2045, prepared during the Russian chairmanship, reports BELTA correspondent.

"It is important that our countries live not only in the present. We clearly understand the goals of integration in the foreseeable future. At the initiative of the Russian side, a declaration has been prepared that defines the tasks for the development of the Eurasian Economic Union up to 2030 and outlines the contours of integration up to 2045. In strict accordance with economic pragmatism, specific and clear goals have been set: further construction of a common Eurasian market, ensuring it with key goods and resources, developing cooperation, forming a common transport and logistics space and a common financial market, and active international positioning of the EAEU," said the head of the Belarusian state.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, a roadmap for implementing the outlined measures needs to be developed to support the declaration: "The declaration defines the most important directions along which we will move. This is a conceptual document. Therefore, today we made a decision, speaking in a narrow format, that a roadmap – a concrete plan for our development – must be adopted to further the declaration. It will not be easy, but we will adopt such a plan."

On financial support for cooperation

According to Alexander Lukashenko, special attention is being paid to the issue of financial support for Eurasian industrial cooperation projects through the funds of the Union budget.

"A good initiative. This means we will jointly build new enterprises and thereby develop our economy. The decision has been made, criteria for selecting such projects have been developed and approved," he noted.

On transport-logistical and digital infrastructure

Equally important is the work on the joint development of transport-logistical and digital infrastructure of the Member States, as well as enhancing the Union's transport connectivity with actively developing third-country markets.

"Aligning our infrastructure capabilities, realizing the potential of international organizations and development institutions can and should ensure the formation of a continent-wide transport-logistical and trade-economic space," the Head of State said.

According to him, a good example of such joint efforts is the "North–South" transport corridor, which is being implemented at the initiative of the President of Russia with the participation of Azerbaijan and Iran. "This will be a breakthrough in transport and logistics. It is important to give this project momentum. It must not be left on paper under any circumstances," the Belarusian leader remarked.

On the "integration of integrations" and the status of the EAEU in the world

The maximum disclosure of the goals and directions reflected in the declaration is a task for the governments of the countries and the Eurasian Economic Commission. "In the conditions of forming a new highly competitive geopolitical environment, the result of the implementation of all plans would be to see the Eurasian Economic Union, if not by 2030, then by 2045 for sure as one of the main global poles of economic attraction," Alexander Lukashenko stated.

The head of state said that at a meeting in a narrow composition, he compared the EAEU with other integration associations, such as the SCO and BRICS. "A powerful organization - the SCO. Many who are members of the EAEU are members of this association. BRICS is a very well-publicized (and rightly so), in the future, possibly a powerful organization, which many countries dissatisfied with the development of the situation in the UN are looking at. But, comparing them with the EAEU, I conclude that we have more opportunities. The SCO and BRICS have not advanced in the economy as much as we have. They do not have this dynamics. They have not yet reached the level of integration that we have achieved," explained the Belarusian leader.

According to him, the main thing now is not to lose momentum and not to stop in cooperation and development of integration: "We need to move in this direction. So that we are not only a leading regional but also a global economic organization. And if there is an economy, then politics will come to this, and military-political cooperation, if there is something to defend. It will not go anywhere. We have a chance. The most important thing is not to stop."

"The document is comprehensive and correct, with everything detailed therein. However, greater systematicity is desired in matters of the Union's international positioning and the Commission's international activities. There should also be a clear action plan, rather than ad hoc decisions," the Belarusian leader noted.

According to him, it is necessary to work more actively on developing the institution of the State Observer at the Union, and to make greater efforts towards the actual alignment of the integration potentials of the EAEU, SCO, and BRICS. "Despite having more opportunities, we need to cooperate with them more closely. This will only make us stronger. We need to take advantage of the benefits of participating in such dynamically developing associations with Russia, which operates in them as one of the key founding countries. We will support the Russian Federation in this important collective work in every possible way," Alexander Lukashenko stated.

Source: belta.by