EAEU summit in St. Petersburg

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko took part in the summit of the Eurasian Economic Union in St. Petersburg on 25 December.

“Today’s meeting is to a certain extent a landmark one. We are rounding up the next stage of the Eurasian Economic Union development. Next year we will celebrate the tenth anniversary [of the EAEU Treaty]. We have heard an extensive and detailed report on the results of the EAEU’s activity over the past period. We can assess the results and also talk about ways of improvement, necessary solutions to problematic issues. I believe the main achievement is the stably functioning common domestic market and common customs space despite all the current shortcomings,” the Belarusian leader said.

Over the last seven years, the EAEU’s trade with foreign partners has increased by more than $340 billion in absolute terms. Mutual trade has doubled to exceed $85 billion. “This year Belarus’ trade with Russia will reach some $50 billion,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The EAEU has achieved a high level of self-sufficiency in raw materials and key types of food products.

"This is very important. Many believed that we would not be able to live on our own. As we see we have ensured our self-sufficient in key products," the Belarusian leader said.

For example, the EAEU countries ranks second in the world in oil and gas production and mineral fertilizers, the third in the production of wheat, potatoes, livestock products, and fourth in coal production.

Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled that at the very start, the EAEU had a foreign trade deficit in food goods, which was almost $13 billion in 2015.

"Now, thanks to well-coordinated work within the union, we have eliminated the imbalance and made a profit in terms of food. We have achieved a high level of food self-sufficiency which, for example, in Belarus is almost 100%. Due to our own production, we meet our domestic needs in grain, pork, poultry meat, milk, vegetables, vegetable oils, chicken eggs and other products," the president said.

"Deliver us some. Don't be greedy," Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked jokingly.

The head of state also noted that such results were achieved in very unfavorable external conditions when geopolitical rivals openly set out to drive a wedge between the allies. "But we have coped with this challenge together and are moving forward progressively," Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed