Armenia Officially Joins Eurasian Economic Union

Heads of states of EEU member countries Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia and prospective member Kyrgyzstan at an economic summit in Moscow

YEREVAN—Armenia officially joined the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) on Friday, banding together with Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus in a Moscow-led project.

As part of a deal signed last October, Armenia will have limited representation in the economic union until the end of 2015. Three Armenian members will share one vote in the union’s governing body, the Eurasian Economic Commission, TASS news agency reports.

Kyrgyzstan is also set to join the Union on May 1.

Armenia’s entry into the EEU means it will have to gradually transition to a unified tariff system with the Union’s other members, with 2022 set as the deadline for the full transition, TASS reports.

Representatives of Armenia were appointed to the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and the Court of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). The resolution of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council has been published on the EEC website, BelTA reports.

Robert Harutyunyan, Karine Minasyan and Ara Nranyan have become members of the EEC Board (ministerial rank) on behalf of Armenia. In connection with these appointments, the EEC has been allowed to set up three additional secretariats of the new members of the board. In addition, the number of the EEC departments has been increased from 8 to 11.

Armen Tumanyan and Erna Ayriyan have been appointed members of the EEU Court by another decision of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

Armenia’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of International Economic Integration and Reform Vache Gabrielyan has been nominated to the post of Member of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Armenia became member of the Eurasian Economic Union on 2 January.