December 8, 1999 - the day of the union state of Russia and Belarus. Then the leaders of the two countries, Lukashenko and Yeltsin, signed a new agreement, which, no doubt, dispersed the integration processes.
Day of the Union State of Russia and Belarus also - April 2, 1996.
Then a historic event took place in the St. George's Hall of the Kremlin. The leaders of the two countries signed the very first treaty on the union state of Russia and Belarus.
It's been 20 years since those events. The union still officially exists. However, despite twenty years of cooperation, the two countries have many unresolved problems and mutual claims. Let's try to figure out what the union state of Russia and Belarus is.
Are these attempts to revive the USSR or an analogue of the EU in the CIS? We will also talk about the main problems of integration.
New USSR or not
In one of the speeches, the President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putinspoke of the collapse of the Union. It was a big mistake, but trying to revive it would be a big folly. Be that as it may, but almost all countries that were part of the USSR had interdependence. Despite national contradictions, the former republics could not economically survive on their own without each other. This is due to the fact that the leadership for a long time held the country together through economic zoning. Those. each republic developed its own, unique areas that were not in other regions.
For example, Belarus - potatoes, dairy production, heavy engineering.
Ukraine is the “breadbasket of the Union”. Cereal crops, corn, military-industrial complex engines.
Russia – nuclear energy, heavy industry, timber, gas.
The B altic States - technological production, etc.
We will not list all the republics. Let's just say that the collapse of the USSR "ruined" almost all industries in them, because. they all worked as one. Businesses were not prepared for various barriers to independence. As a result, a separate economic zoning in the former republics ceased to exist.
Of course, there have been attempts to integrate with the help of CIS instruments, but the Commonwe alth is more of a "consultative" organization that does not decide anything. Of course, there are customs privileges between the member countries of the Commonwe alth of Independent States, but still this is no longer a single state with unified borders,currency, laws.
Russia and Belarus decided to avoid breaking economic relations between themselves. Cooperation within the CIS was insufficient. Therefore, the two countries created a union state of Russia and Belarus.
Who is the boss
It took a long time to decide the question of the political system. It was assumed that the union state of Russia and Belarus would be ruled by one leader, i.e., by analogy with a presidential republic. At least, that's what the authorities of the Russian Federation suggested. President Lukashenko, of course, agreed to such a step, but on the condition that he would be such a leader. Russia did not expect such a turn, and reminded the Belarusian president of the ratio of population and GDP between the two countries. The principle of unity of command has been abolished.
The political structure of the Confederation
In accordance with the Treaty on the Establishment of the Union operate:
- Supreme State Council (Chairman Lukashenka).
- Council of Ministers (Chairman Medvedev).
- Standing Committee of the Union State of Russia and Belarus (Chairman Grigory Rapota).
- Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia.
The union state of Russia and Belarus "merged" into the Customs Union or not
Many citizens think that with the creation of the EAEU first, and then the Customs Union, the Confederation of the two countries ceased to exist. But in fact it is not.
Yes, many processes between the two countries do exist within the framework of the CU, but a numberinteractions take place exclusively under the Treaty of Confederation:
- Testing pilot projects and innovations, which are then implemented in the CU.
- Cooperation within the framework of the Treaty between agencies responsible for security - counterintelligence, migration services, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, etc.
- Interaction of inter-regional cooperation. For example, the forums of the regions of Belarus and Russia.
- Within the framework of the Confederation, the time of free stay of citizens on the territory of both states has been increased to 90 days.
- Active interaction takes place in the educational sphere. Almost 10,000 Belarusians study in Russia and 2,000 Russians study in the Republic of Belarus.
All these processes would be impossible within the framework of the Customs Union.
TC was created for the free movement of goods within the union. This is the so-called duty-free trade zone. All goods produced in the countries belonging to the CU can be freely sold within the organization. There are no additional certifications and no fees.
The Union State of Russia and Belarus was created for deeper integration processes. It is not limited to economic cooperation. This is the future project of a unified Confederation, i.e. future state. The phased integration project involves the flag of the union state of Russia and Belarus, coat of arms, anthem, currency, common documents.
USSR returns or not
Given the design of the flag (a red flag with two yellow stars) and the coat of arms (despite the presence of a double-headed eagle, it looks more like a "Soviet planet" with spikelets),it can be assumed that the two countries want to revive the USSR. At least the paraphernalia projects say so.
Functions of the Supreme State Council of the Union State
The Supreme State Council of the SG performs the following functions:
- Approves the international treaties of the SG adopted by the Parliament of the SG.
- Determines the location of the organs of the SG.
- Approves the symbols of the SG, the budget of the SG adopted by the Parliament of the SG.
- Listen to the annual report of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the SG on the implementation of the adopted decisions.
- Issues decrees within its powers, etc.
The State Council of the SG includes the heads of the participating countries, or persons authorized to speak on their behalf. If at least one of them votes "against" for any decision, then it is not accepted. That is, in fact, the Council performs the functions of the president, only it consists of a "board of heads of state." Since 2000, A. G. Lukashenko has been the chairman. Its functions:
- Conducts international negotiations on behalf of the Supreme State Council of the SG from the SG.
- Addresses annual messages to the SG Parliament.
- Organizes the work of the Supreme State Council of the SG.
- Gives instructions within its competence to the Council of Ministers of the SG.
- On behalf of the Supreme State Council, the SG performs its functions.
Council of Ministers of the Union State
Council of Ministers (Sov. Min.) SG is the executive body of the Confederation. It includes the heads of governments of the participating countries, the ministers of foreign affairs, finance, heads of sectoral governing bodies of the SG, the Secretary of State of the Unionstates of Russia and Belarus. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the SG is appointed only by the head of the executive power of the participating country. Functions Sov. Mina SG:
- Provides control over the implementation of the provisions of the SG Agreement.
- Develops general policy guidelines.
- Performs common property management.
- Reviews the reports of the Accounts Chamber.
- Provides the creation and development of a single economic space, the implementation of a single tax, currency, price, trade policy.
Standing Committee
The Standing Committee is the main working body of the Confederation. Ministers and Heads of State cannot be torn "on two fronts". In addition, constantly collecting them from different states is a rather problematic situation. For these purposes, there is a Standing Committee of the SG. Its functions:
- Implementation of the provisions of the Agreement on the establishment of the SG.
- Developing a development strategy for the SG.
- Preparing the SG budget.
- Coordination of the work of sectoral bodies of the SG.
Parliament
The Parliament of the Confederation consists of an equal number of deputies of the legislative bodies of the participating countries. Today there are 36 of them. It is not the legislative body of the Confederation. Parliament cannot issue uniform laws for two countries. Of the deputies, only specialized commissions have been formed, which, within their competence, interact with various committees and departments of the two countries. There are eight of them:
- byRegulations;
- on economic policy;
- on foreign policy issues;
- security;
- on environmental issues;
- on information policy;
- on budget;
- on social policy and culture.
There should be a single judicial system that will coordinate the legal acts of the two states. Perhaps someday uniform laws will operate on the territory of the two states, but it is too early to talk about this. Little has been done in 20 years.
Creating a union state of Belarus, Russia: problems of integration
It would seem that SG has existed for 20 years. During this time, you can not only establish cooperation, but also really create a unitary state if you wish.
But there are a number of problems that stop many integration processes. These include:
- political aspects;
- economic aspects;
- military aspects.
Let's try to sort them out.
Select and divide
Political problems are associated with bureaucratic barriers to the creation of the SG. This is due to the privatization processes within Russia. Almost all enterprises (even strategic ones) are moving from the public sector to private hands.
Belarus takes a tough stance on this issue. "Thieves' privatization is unacceptable, we will never follow the Russian model," says the leader of the "fraternal" republic.
Privatization, according toLukashenka, is impossible in such cases:
- Unprofitable production, but without which the existence of the economy is impossible. This is the coal industry, transport, post office, etc.
- High-tech and capital-intensive industries that pay off in 10-20 years.
- Defense industry.
For Russia, with its vast territories in the hands of the state, there should be monopolies that unite it. Fragmentation of industries and privatization into private hands can create the danger of conspiracies, secession, etc.
Besides, there is no single currency, no unified laws that would enhance integration.
The stumbling block of integration is the pricing policy and taxation, as well as the development of the social sphere. The single union state of Russia and Belarus unifies uniform laws, prices, and domestic policy.
Is the state necessary in the economy
But Belarus is actively in favor of price and tax containment. This is due to a powerful public sector, as well as serious control in the private sector. The government of the "fraternal republic" does not allow the revelry of the oligarchs in the country to set prices "from the ceiling." This creates dangerous precedents for Russian oligarchs and kickback officials. They see the process of integration as a threat to their well-being. Therefore, they try to slow down all processes in different ways.
Western and many domestic liberal politicians are also opponents of the SG. They see in these processes a return to the former socialist system. The role of the state ineconomy of Belarus is excessive. And all integration processes will only strengthen it, including this will happen in the Russian economy, which should not be allowed.
