Eurasian Economic Union / Free Trade Zone

Establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union

The term - Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) - has evolved over time and is primarily attributed to the geographical location of the member states.

Key Dates of the Eurasian Economic Union:

• Area: 20,264,539 square kilometers
• Population: 182.2 million inhabitants
• Foundation: January 1, 2015, in Minsk, Belarus
• EAEU Commission in Moscow, Russia
• Development Bank in Almaty, Kazakhstan
• GDP per capita: 12,000 US dollars
• Court in Minsk, Belarus

The EAEU was established on January 1, 2015. The agreement on the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union was signed on May 29, 2014, by Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union on October 10, 2014, and Kyrgyzstan on August 12, 2015.

• English: Eurasian Economic Union - EAEU
• Russian: Евразийский Экономический Союз - ЕАЭС

The goal of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is to facilitate the exchange of products, capital, and services among the member states. This aims to achieve economic benefits for all participating states of the Eurasian Economic Union. 

Furthermore, the economic policies of the individual EAEU states are to be coordinated through intergovernmental agreements.

Member States of the Eurasian Economic Union

Russia - EAEU Member State: Russia is by far the most important EAEU member state. The Russian Federation, with its capital in Moscow and approximately 150 million inhabitants, is the largest economy within the Eurasian Economic Union.  

Kazakhstan - EAEU Member State: Kazakhstan is a co-founder and the second-largest EAEU member state. The capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the city of Nur-Sultan. The population of the Republic of Kazakhstan is approximately 18 million inhabitants.

Belarus - EAEU Member State: Belarus, with its capital in Minsk and approximately 10 million inhabitants, is a co-founder and the third-largest EAEU member state. The Republic of Belarus has been a member of the Eurasian Economic Union since May 29, 2014.

Armenia - EAEU Member State: Armenia, with its capital in Yerevan and approximately 3 million inhabitants, has been a participant state of the Eurasian Economic Union since October 10, 2014.

Kyrgyzstan - EAEU Member State: Kyrgyzstan, with its capital in Bishkek and approximately 6 million inhabitants, has been a participant state of the Eurasian Economic Union since August 12, 2015.

Candidate States for Membership in the EEU

Due to the various partnerships among the CIS states, EAEU states, and other political and intergovernmental associations and organizations, several states worldwide are considered potential candidates for EAEU membership. 

Candidate States, Trade Partners, and Observers:

• Tajikistan
• Azerbaijan
• Uzbekistan
• Mongolia
• Ukraine
• Turkey
• Iran
• Syria
• Georgia
• Moldova
• Peru
• Cuba
• Egypt
• Vietnam
• Serbia
• China
• India
• Zimbabwe
• Tunisia

EAC Certification in EAEU Member States

Certification is mandatory in the EAEU member states. The EAC Certification and EAC Declaration are conducted in accordance with the regulations of EAEU directives of the EAEU states. 

The EAC approval is carried out according to the standardization system of the EAEU member states and is only conducted by EAC certification service providers based in the member states.

EAC Certification of Various Product Groups:

• EAC Certification for Machinery and Equipment
• EAC Certification for Electrical and Radio Engineering
• EAC Certification for ATEX Devices and Ex Equipment
• EAC Certification for Motor Vehicles and Auto Parts
• EAC Certification for Building Materials
• EAC Certification for Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices
• EAC Certification for Measuring Instruments
• EAC Certification for Food and Beverages
• EAC Certification for Pressure Equipment and Containers
• EAC Certification for Clothing and Footwear
• EAC Certification for Perfumes and Cosmetics
• EAC Certification for Packaging
• EAC Certification for Chemicals
• EAC Certification for Furniture

Goals of the Eurasian Economic Union

The goal of the EAEU states is to become a reliable economic partner between Europe and Asia and to benefit in all respects from modern, dynamic, and globalized world trade.

Long-term Goals of the Eurasian Economic Union:

• Abolition of customs duties and customs controls
• Maintenance of a unified economic space
• Free flow of capital
• Free movement of goods
• Free movement of persons
• Exchange of labor
• Exchange of services
• Cooperation in the energy and electricity sector
• Cooperation in industrial matters
• Cooperation in logistics and transport sectors
• Cooperation in agricultural and forestry matters
• Common market for pharmaceuticals and medical technology
• Common financial market and currency union

Organization of the Eurasian Economic Union

The organization of the Eurasian Economic Union consists of the EAEU Economic Council and the EAEU Intergovernmental Council. The key decisions of the Eurasian Economic Union are made by the aforementioned bodies exclusively through consensus. 

Furthermore, the Eurasian Economic Union is influenced by the Economic Commission of the EAEU states in Russia, the Court of the EAEU states in Belarus, and the Development Bank in Kazakhstan. The working language of all institutions of the Eurasian Economic Union is Russian.

The Customs Union of the Eurasian Economic Union

The Customs Union (CU) among the individual participant states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was established on July 6, 2010. The Customs Union was initiated by the founding states of the Eurasian Economic Union.

All customs borders between the EAEU founding states were dismantled by July 2011. In 2011, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Moldova, and Ukraine signed an agreement to create a common free trade area.

EAC Marking in the EAEU States

EAC certified products must be marked with an EAC Mark of the Eurasian Economic Union. The EAC marking is carried out in accordance with the technical regulations of the EAEU member states. The EAC marking confirms the EAC conformity of goods with the unified regulations of the technical directives of the Customs Union (CU). 

The EAC marking is considered a prerequisite for export to Russia and the EAEU states.

The marketing of goods without the corresponding EAC marking is punishable by a fine and the confiscation of the goods. We recommend taking the EAC marking of products seriously to avoid difficulties with the supervisory authorities.