DUSHANBE, October 3, Asia-Plus – A session of the Interstate Committee of the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) that will be held in Dushanbe on October 6 is expected to consider 17 issues 

Russia’s news agency Itar-Tass cited the EAEC secretary general Grigory Rapota as saying that a package of documents “to legal model of creation of the Customs Union will be singed at the Community summit in Dushanbe.” 

According to him, these documents are on creation of a common customs territory, on procedure of joining and seceding from the Customs Union, and on creation of a superior body of the Customs Union. 

The EAEC secretary general said the preparation of a legal framework for the customs union is the main goal in the strategic development of the organization in the near future.  "The key issue in the strategic development of EAEC today is forming the customs union," he said.

“Creation of the Customs Union is not an easy process, and therefore, a plan of actions for three years will be adopted,” the secretary general said, noting that initially a customs union will consist of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan, with other EAEC members joining later. 

The customs union envisions no duties or taxes for imports or exports within the organization''s territory. I

Rapota noted that the EAEC heads of states will also sign a protocol on making changes to the treaty on the foundation of the Community.  

Secretary generals of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) as well as representatives from Turkmenistan have been invited to attend the EAEC summit in Dushanbe.  

According to Rapota, Turkmenistan is showing interest in activity of the EAEC lately.  “Turkmenistan seeks cooperation, first of all, on implementation of transport and energy projects and we invite Turkmenistan to all our events,” the secretary general said.   

The Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) was put into motion on October 10 2000 when Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan signed the treaty. EAEC was formally created when the treaty was finally ratified by all five member states in May 2001.

EAEC grew out of the CIS Customs Union. All the members of EAEC are also members of the older Commonwealth of Independent States and the relationship between the two organizations is ambiguous.  The members have also all agreed that EAEC should be merged with the Central Asian Cooperation Organization (CACO).   

The Eurasian Economic Community seeks to create a customs union and common economic space, and to harmonize tariffs.   

In May 2002, Moldova and Ukraine were granted observer status within EAEC; however, Ukraine subsequently revealed its desire not to become a full member state.  Armenia received observer status in April 2003.

Uzbekistan applied for membership in October 2005 when the process of merging CACO and EAEC began. The organizations joined on January 25, 2006.