EAEU leaders to discuss cooperation in energy sector and digital economy

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. The leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will discuss at a summit in Sochi on Monday cooperation in the energy sector, digital economy, medicine, environment and Moldova’s membership as an observer, Acting Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters. "A meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council will be held in Sochi on May 14. This is the first meeting of the heads of the EAEU member-countries this year and the first contact between our president after his inauguration and the leaders of the closest allied states. To that end, in addition to participation in the council’s meeting, bilateral meetings with all heads of state who will attend the meeting are planned," the Kremlin aide said, adding that, the taking part in the Council’s meeting will be the presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and new Armenian prime minister. Moldova’s President Igor Dodon will attend the meeting as a guest, Ushakov said. Among the top priority issues for cooperation between the EAEU member-states Ushakov singled out the creation of a single market for goods and services, the development of trade and investment ties and efforts to strengthen industrial and technological cooperation. The Russian side also emphasizes the importance of maintaining the policy aimed at cooperation in monetary and financial policy and believes it is important to maintain the growth rate in nuclear and renewable energy, environment, space, tourism and sports. "Among the issues to be discussed at the council is a rather important issue that will undoubtedly attract the attention of the media. It is the approval of the draft provision on observer state status in our union. We expect observer status to be granted to Moldova at the meeting," Ushakov noted. According to the Kremlin, another important priority in Russia’s EAEU chairmanship and, in general, in the work within the framework of the EAEU, is the digitalization of economy. During its chairmanship Russia offers joint implementation of digital projects in on-line trade, technology for monitoring the movement of goods, creation of digital transport corridors and industrial cooperation. Forming a single EAEU services market is of particular importance as well. Read more