Shokhin: Business to Participate in UES Legislative Harmonization

RSPP President Alexander Shokhin spoke at a briefing entitled ‘Business in Russia: What Is UES?’ held last Friday as part of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. The briefing participants discussed development of the Unified Economic Space based on Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan agreements and prospects and business opportunities opened up by the UES.

RSPP President addressed the issues of bringing UES members’ national legislations in line with each other and expanding UES via accession of new members.
According to Shokhin, UEX legislation streamlining is not about “averaging-out” the three countries’ legislation but “pulling them up’ toward the level of a free trade zone +”, i.e. holding up EU vehicles as an example.

It is highly important, stressed RSPP President, that business/government consultations on legislative streamlining be held on a permanent basis, the way it is done in Russia at the national level. “UES should be developed first depthward, and only then broadwise with the business community involved in creating economic regulation vehicles inside Customs Union to the greatest degree”, Mr. Shokhin said.

Once EUS has been completed and its business attractiveness proven, “other countries will begin knocking on our door, while competition between national jurisdictions within the supra-national Customs Union will enable a more liberal harmonization of norms and regulations”, said Mr. Shokhin.

Other briefing participants included Deputy Economic Development Minister of Russia Alexei Likhachev, Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Vladimir Salomatov etc.

RSPP PR