Regional Trade Agreements in the ECE

BELARUS AND RUSSIA DEVELOP TAX SYSTEMS

In order to create equal conditions for economic players on the territory of Belarus and Russia and promote efficient functioning of common free market zone, in 1999 the parties signed a corresponding agreement, the Tax Code of the Union State, which make provisions for the unification of tax legislation. At present the experts of the two countries are continuing to work on implementation of these provisions, but at the same time they have to take into account the level of integration into common free market zone as well as specific character of national economies.

VICTOR ZUBKOV URGES MORE EFFORTS TO DEVELOP UNION STATE ECONOMIC AREA

“We need to intensify the activity to create the single economic space and customs union,” Prime Minister of Russia Viktor Zubkov said when opening a session of the Union State Council of Ministers in Moscow on 26 December.

Viktor Zubkov also urged that all obstacles in trade and cooperation should be removed. According to the Prime Minister of Russia, the session will focus on concrete issues of cooperation. The sides will consider the projected supply and demand in terms of most important products and the Union State fuel and energy consumption mix for 2008. The session will also discuss the course of preparation of intergovernmental agreements on international road communication, rules and principles of granting industrial subsidies and subsidising the agricultural industry. The new draft Union State programmes and other issues will be also on the agenda.