Minsk: A Platform for Dialogue between the EU and EEU

Vladimir Mackay, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, believes that dialogue between the European Union (EU) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) is important for the harmonization of integration processes and the formation of the future common economic space.

“Belarus is ready to provide a platform for such a dialogue,” said Vladimir Mackay in Minsk on June 29.

“I am convinced of the necessity of dialogue and interaction between neighbors, especially with Russia, in order to achieve the fundamental objectives of the Eastern Partnership – peace, stability and security in the region,” said Mackay at the press conference, stressing that it will avoid the emergence of new dividing lines in Europe.

The EU’s Eastern Partnership program provides for political association and economic integration between the EU and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The last three countries signed an Associated Agreement with the European Union last year.

The EEU is an economic union which is based on the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. Armenia is also a member of the EEU and recently Kyrgyzstan also joined them, on July 1, 2015. The EEU involves the free movement of goods, services, capital and labor between the member countries.