ZCZC
BCN-18
EAEU-SERBIA-FREE-TRADE-ZONE
Free trade zone between EAEU and Serbia does not infringe on EU interests
– official
MOSCOW, October 19, 2019 (BSS/TASS) – An agreement on establishing a free
trade zone between EAEU countries and Serbia will not infringe on the
interests of the European Union, First Deputy Head of the Russian Government
Office Sergey Prikhodko told reporters ahead of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry
Medvedev’s official visit to Serbia.
The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Serbia will sign the agreement on
establishing a free trade zone at the session of the Eurasian
Intergovernmental Council in Moscow on October 25.
“The agreement on a free trade zone between the EAEU and Serbia does not
infringe on the interests of third parties, including EU member states.
According to official EU documents, candidate countries may have special
trading regimes up until they join the European Union,” Prikhodko said.
“When it comes to Serbia’s relations with the EU, it is important for the
Russian side that Serbia’s prospects of joining the EU do not result in the
artificial slowdown in rates of Russian-Serbian cooperation,” he added.
The Eurasian Economic Union was established on the basis of the Customs
Union and Common Economic Space on 1 January 2015. EAEU members include
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Kyrgyzstan. In 2016, the EAEU signed
an agreement on establishing a free trade zone with Vietnam. In 2018, a
temporary agreement on a free trade zone was signed with Iran, and an
agreement on economic cooperation was signed with China.
BSS/TASS/HR/1400