Eurasian Economic Union

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU or EEU) is an economic union of five post-Soviet states located in Eurasia. It has an integrated single market. As of 2023, the union includes 183 million people and has a gross domestic product of over $2.4 trillion.

The Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union was signed on 29 May 2014 by the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia. It came into force on 1 January 2015. Later, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan joined the union, with Armenia joining in January 2015 and Kyrgyzstan in August 2015.

The EAEU works to allow goods and services to move freely across borders. It also has common policies for many areas such as trade, energy, and transportation. In the future, the union plans to have a single currency and even more teamwork among its members. The union operates through supranational and intergovernmental institutions, with the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council as its main decision-making body. The Eurasian Economic Commission handles the daily work of the union.

History

Background

Main articles: Transition period and cessation of the existence of the Soviet Union and Union Republics of the Soviet Union

After the Soviet Union broke apart, the countries that were once part of it needed to build new relationships. They had shared infrastructure, trade, and laws, so working together helped them stay strong. Many of these countries wanted to work more closely to improve their economies and trade.

In the 1990s, Russia and some Central Asian countries faced hard economic times after the Soviet Union ended. They made reforms and tried to join the global economy. They also started talking about ways to work together more closely.

Commonwealth of Independent States

Main articles: Commonwealth of Independent States, Common Economic Space of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and Mobility rights arrangements of the Commonwealth of Independent States

In 1991, leaders of some former Soviet countries created the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to help coordinate policies and trade. They signed agreements to work together on economic issues, trade, and travel. Over time, more countries joined these efforts to build stronger economic ties.

Proposal to establish a new organisation

Main articles: Eurasian Union of States and Political union

In the early 1990s, leaders like Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan suggested creating a new organization called the Eurasian Union of States. This idea aimed to help countries trade more easily and support each other’s economies. Though it took time to get support, the idea helped shape future agreements.

Customs union and integration in economic and humanitarian fields

Main articles: Multi-speed integration and Belarus-Russia Customs Union

During the 1990s and early 2000s, countries like Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan signed many agreements to work together on trade and economic policies. They wanted to remove barriers to trade and create common rules for doing business.

Eurasian Economic Community and supranational competence

Main articles: Eurasian Economic Community, Regional organization, and Supranational union

In 2000, several countries formed the Eurasian Economic Community to work more closely on economic issues. They aimed to create a common market, similar to how the European Union works. This helped them share resources and policies more effectively.

Common external tariff and Customs Code

Main articles: Common external tariff, Common Customs Tariff of the Eurasian Economic Union, Customs Union of the Eurasian Economic Union, and Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union

In 2010, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia created a Customs Union. This meant they removed tariffs between each other and agreed on common rules for trading with other countries. This was a step toward building a larger single market.

Four economic freedoms and Eurasian Economic Commission

Main articles: Four economic freedoms and Single Economic Space of the Eurasian Economic Union

In 2012, the three countries created the Eurasian Economic Space to make it easier to trade goods, services, and labor across borders. They also set up the Eurasian Economic Commission to help manage these rules, similar to the European Commission.

Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union

The Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU Treaty) officially began on 1 January 2015. This treaty brought together many rules and agreements into one place, making it easier for countries to work together. Armenia and Kyrgyzstan later joined, making the union stronger. Leaders hoped it would help create jobs and growth for people in these countries.

Structural evolution

Membership

Main article: Member states of the Eurasian Economic Union

The Eurasian Economic Union began with three countries from the former Soviet Union: Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Later, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan joined in 2014. Armenia decided to join after discussions with Russia. Although Armenia does not share a border with other members, it agreed to let goods pass freely through Georgia to reach the union.

Moldova became an observer in 2017. Uzbekistan and Cuba joined as observers in 2020. In 2024, Iran also became an observer. Armenia plans to join the European Union but will stay in the Eurasian Economic Union for now.

Presidency

Each year, a different member country leads the Union. The leadership moves in alphabetical order using the Russian language. Currently, Belarus holds this position.

Enlargement

Main article: Enlargement of the Eurasian Economic Union

Russia aims to include more countries from the former Soviet Union, except the three Baltic EU member states. The goal is to create a strong union similar to the European Union. Tajikistan is interested in joining and is in discussions about becoming a member.

Uzbekistan has been slow to join fully but is considering it. Some countries like Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia have chosen to work more closely with the European Union instead. Turkey was invited to join but prefers the European Union. The EAEU also works with China on various projects.

Politics and governance

The Eurasian Economic Union works much like the European Union. All of its groups follow rules set in treaties and agreements.

The Supreme Council is made up of leaders from each member country. They make big decisions, like approving the budget and planning the union’s future.

The Eurasian Economic Commission, started in 2012, helps run the union. Based in Moscow, it makes decisions on many important topics. It has strict rules against unfair actions.

The Commission has a Council and a Board. The Council meets every three months and helps manage the union. The Board meets weekly and handles daily work, helping solve problems between countries.

Right now, the union does not have its own parliament, but leaders like Vladimir Putin think it might be a good idea someday.

The Court of the Eurasian Economic Union, located in Minsk, solves disputes and explains the union’s laws. It started in 2015.

The union’s budget for 2015 was over 6.6 billion Russian roubles, paid by member countries. Russia also helped Kyrgyzstan join the union.

Russian is the main working language of the union.

Economy

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is a group of five countries working together to make trade and travel easier. It includes Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. Together, these countries have a big market with about 180 million people and a strong economy.

The EAEU aims to help its members grow by making it easier to move goods, services, and people between countries. This means people can work, study, or live in any of the member countries. The union also works on common rules for things like energy, industry, and farming to make everything run smoothly.

The union is rich in natural resources like oil, gas, and minerals, which it shares among its members. It also focuses on building better roads, railways, and other ways to move things quickly and cheaply. This helps everyone in the union stay connected and strong.

Third-country economic relationships

The Eurasian Economic Union has signed its first free trade agreement with Vietnam. Negotiations for this agreement began in 2013 and were completed in 2015.

Russia has shown interest in working more closely with Turkey, suggesting the idea of forming a free trade zone together. Israel is also considering starting free trade talks with the Union. There have been many discussions about possible free trade agreements with over 30 countries, including India and South Korea.

In 2015, the Union began talks with Iran and China about free trade. Because of actions by Russia in Ukraine, some countries placed sanctions on Russia. Because of this, Russia temporarily stopped exporting some foods to the Union but started again shortly after. Kazakhstan said it would follow the sanctions rules set by the United States and European Union.

As of 2023, talks were ongoing with Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates. Agreements with Iran and Egypt were nearly finished. The Union was also updating its agreement with China. In December 2023, a free trade agreement was signed with Iran, removing taxes on most goods traded between them.

Discussions are happening about making free trade agreements with Mongolia, Pakistan, and Israel. In January 2025, a group was formed to study a possible agreement with Tunisia. In April 2025, talks began with Pakistan. Free trade talks with Indonesia were finished in July 2025, and an agreement was signed in December 2025. India and the Union signed the basics of a free trade agreement in August 2025.

Third-country EAEU Agreements

After January 1, 2015, the members of the Union cannot make their own free trade agreements for goods. They must work together as a group.

The EAEU has signed agreements with:

• Vietnam (signed May 2015, started October 2016)
• Iran (temporary agreement signed May 2018, started October 2019; full agreement signed December 2023, started May 2025)
• China (signed May 2018, started October 2019)
• Serbia (signed October 2019, started July 2021)
• Singapore (signed October 2019)
• Mongolia (signed June 2025)
• United Arab Emirates (signed June 2025)
• Indonesia (signed December 2025)

Agreements with Egypt, India, and Israel are still being worked on.

Pre-2015 free trade in goods agreements

Main articles: List of bilateral free trade agreements, Commonwealth of Independent States Agreement on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area, and Commonwealth of Independent States Free Trade Area

Countries in the Eurasian Economic Union can still keep free trade agreements they made before January 1, 2015. These include agreements within the Commonwealth of Independent States and some bilateral agreements.

Cooperation, Trade in Services and Investment Agreements

The members of the Union can make agreements about trade in services and investments without needing approval from the whole Union. These agreements are made separately by each member.

Unilateral preferences for economic assistance

The Union offers special trading rules to help developing countries grow their economies. These rules make it easier for these countries to trade with the Union by lowering taxes on their goods.

International cooperation and interaction

The Eurasian Economic Union works with other countries and groups by following rules set in treaties and agreements. Over the years, it has made agreements and statements with many nations and groups, such as China, the United Nations, and others. These partnerships help the union grow and work better with the rest of the world.

The union has many ways to work with other countries. One simple way is to let certain countries become "observer states," meaning they can watch and learn but not fully join. The union has also made special agreements with many countries and groups to help them work together more easily. These agreements help both sides trade and share ideas.

Foreign affairs

The Eurasian Economic Union uses important resources like weapons, raw materials, and oil to trade with other countries. Even though some members face restrictions from other nations, they still use the union to show they don’t support those restrictions.

Economic partners

The Eurasian Economic Union talks as one group when making trade deals with other countries. Big partners include the European Union, Turkey, Iran, China, and Korea. The union wants to trade more with countries in the Middle East and East Asia to take advantage of growing trade between Europe and Asia.

Because of disagreements with its biggest member, Russia, the European Union does not officially recognize the Eurasian Economic Union. Tensions rose in 2014 when both groups tried to pull nearby countries into their own trade systems. Russia has since tried to make new trade friends with China, Iran, and Turkey. Trade with North and South Korea has also gone up.

China is very interested in working with the union, especially in Central Asia. China and the union both think they can help each other by bringing back old trade routes like the Silk Road. Railways carry goods from China to Europe through Kazakhstan and Russia. China has also made many deals to get energy from Russia and Kazakhstan.

Iran also wants to work more closely with the union and China, especially because both face restrictions from the United States. In 2014, Russia and Iran made a big deal worth $20 billion for energy. A trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union started in October 2019.

Kazakhstan wants to work more with Turkey, and Turkey has said it might make a trade deal with the union in the future.

Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh

In 2013, Armenia decided to join the union. At the time, Armenia already had special trade rules with other countries, which gave it big benefits. Joining the union helped Armenia earn more money and get special treatment for many products. However, there are tensions because of a disputed area called Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan

Tajikistan once planned to join the union but faced problems with neighboring Kyrgyzstan, leading to delays. Both countries have since agreed to work better together. In 2020, Uzbekistan said it wanted to become an observer state.

International response

The leader of the European Union said they support regional groups like the Eurasian Economic Union but warned that wars, such as the one in Ukraine, make it hard to work together. The European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union both want to work with the same countries, which causes tension. Some people think the Eurasian Economic Union is trying to bring back influence from the old Soviet Union, but others see it as a way for these countries to help each other.

Existing integration projects

The Eurasian Economic Union builds on earlier trade agreements between some of its members. Other groups also help these countries work together, like the Union State of Russia and Belarus and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Geography

Strusta Lake in the Vitebsk Region, Belarus, is a big lake and one of the largest in Belarus. The Eurasian Economic Union is found at the far east of Europe, with borders touching the Arctic to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the east. It stretches across much of northern Eurasia, covering an area of over 20,000,000 square kilometres.

The land includes wide plains, forests, and many lakes and rivers. Lake Baikal in Russia is the world’s deepest and clearest lake. The highest point in the union is Khan Tengri Peak in Kazakhstan, standing over 7,000 metres tall. Many of the countries have a lot of people living in cities, especially Russia and Belarus.

Demographics

The Eurasian Economic Union is home to about 185 million people as of 2024. It has 22 big cities, with Moscow being the largest. Most people live in the capital cities and European Russia, while Siberia has fewer residents. Russia has many different ethnic groups, and Kazakhstan and Belarus have large groups of people with Russian roots. Even though the union has many people, they are spread out over a very large area, making it less crowded overall. The union had a higher birth rate in 2010 compared to the European Union.