Unified Tax Code: Russia and Belarus take the first step towards unification

The authorities of Russia and Belarus are planning to begin work on a single tax code, said Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei in an interview with RBC. The integration map of the two countries is planned to be agreed by December 8.

Фото: Depositphotos

Makei emphasized that before deepening integration begins, it is necessary to eliminate a number of obstacles and disagreements, one of which is the tax maneuver in the oil sector being carried out in Russia. Other controversial issues include the supply of agricultural and industrial products and prices for gas and oil, writes Air force.

The tax maneuver provides for the zeroing of export duties on oil and petroleum products within six years, as well as an increase in the tax on mining for three years.

Earlier, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko noted that the Russian tax maneuver caused a decrease in revenues to the Belarusian budget from export customs duties on petroleum products.

On the subject: Media: Russia and Belarus agree on partial unification

Political goal

According to Makei, the creation of a single emission center or the introduction of a single currency for the two countries has not yet been discussed, the document being prepared also does not provide for in-depth political integration.

“There are no political issues related to the creation of a federation or confederation and there will not be any. I repeat once again that sovereignty for both states is sacred, and Belarus does not intend to sacrifice it for the sake of some opportunistic considerations,” Makei explained.

Photo: president.gov.by

According to him, the creation of a joint tax code looks like a political goal, and work on the document should be carried out for at least several months, or even years.

“But nevertheless, this goal is indicated. And I think that our specialists will work out all the issues related to the preparation of this document,” the minister added.

On the subject: Bloomberg: Vladimir Putin plans to stay in power after 2024 and unite Russia and Belarus

Inappropriate provisions

During the integration negotiations, Russia offered Belarus to include in the program of action some provisions that were absolutely unacceptable to the Belarusian side, Makei claims. Among these provisions is the creation of several supranational structures.

“The presidents (Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko), when they met in St. Petersburg and discussed these issues, clearly said that these proposals do not comply with the provisions of the treaty, and there is no point in even discussing them,” the minister said.

Makei also said that Minsk and Moscow have not yet discussed the deployment of a Russian military base in Belarus.

“As for the proposal itself—to place or not to place a base on the territory of Belarus—you know, given the development of modern technologies, there is no point in such a decision,” he clarified.

As the minister explained, technology is already allowing Russia to launch a missile strike anywhere on the planet directly from its territory, which, according to Makei, makes the construction of a military base in Belarus pointless.

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• Russia and Belarus agreed to partially combine economies, and in fact, it is about creating a confederate state, the Kommersant newspaper wrote on September 16. According to the publication, the document stipulates the following provisions: adoption of a single Tax Code; creation of a single regulator of electricity, gas, oil and oil products markets; customs policy integration; common principles of banking and financial supervision; agreements on common principles of “special economic measures”; mutual cancellation of roaming. As reported, in Minsk at that time the news was called "idle journalistic cliches."

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