Belarus leader approves draft protocol on amendments to EAEU treaty

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has approved the draft protocol on amendments to the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union of May 29, 2014. 

The corresponding Decree No. 9 "On the draft international treaty" was signed by the Head of State on January 11, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Belarus president's press service.

According to the press service, the document was approved as a basis for negotiations. The preparation of the draft protocol is due to the need to update the Treaty on the EAEU, taking into account law enforcement practice.

The changes concern issues of customs regulation, trade, competition, public procurement, energy, transport control, technical regulations, the press service said.

Earlier, the Treaty on the EAEU turned ten years old. It was concluded on May 29, 2014 and entered into force on January 1, 2015. The members of the treaty are Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus.

On January 9, the Cabinet of Ministers of Armenia supported the initiative to begin the republic's accession to the European Union. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk pointed out that the EU and the EAEU are incompatible, and warned that if Armenia leaves the EAEU, food and electricity prices will rise in the country, and exports will decrease. He added that the post-Soviet country will also lose 70-80 percent of exports.

By Khagan Isayev