EAEU digital agenda

EAEU IT projects

Main article: EAEU IT projects

Digital Union

Main article: Digital Union (concept of integration of digitalization processes in the EAEU)

2024

Unified digital register of e-commerce operators launched in EAEU

On September 26, 2024, the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission approved the requirements for e-commerce operators for inclusion in a single register. This decision was made within the framework of the implementation of the new chapter of the EAEU Customs Code regulating the turnover of electronic trade goods.

According to the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, the key innovation was the establishment of a minimum financial limit for the performance of the duties of an electronic commerce operator. Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Dmitry Volvach noted that this limit is at least €500 thousand.

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Freepik

The Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission also decided to introduce a new mechanism for returning goods to the warehouse of an electronic commerce operator after acquisition by an individual. This innovation is designed to simplify the process of returning goods for consumers.

During the meeting of the Council, the draft "Rules for information exchange in the common electric power market of the EAEU" was approved. Dmitry Volvach stressed that this document is aimed at ensuring transparent information interaction of all subjects of the general electricity market.

In addition, members of the Eurasian Economic Commission approved a draft agreement on administrative cooperation in the field of property valuation services. This document will allow the relevant departments of the EAEU countries to exchange information on the completed property assessment reports and gain access to regulatory legal acts and registers of service providers.

According to Dmitry Volvach, the implementation of this agreement will help the countries of the Union to prevent possible violations of consumer rights, support bona fide participants in the property assessment services market and transfer this sector to the EAEU single market regime.^[1]

The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation told how the digitalization of procurement procedures in the EAEU is going on

EEU The digitalization of procurement procedures continues. Priority tasks are mutual recognition by the countries of the union of electronic digital signatures and the integration of all information procurement systems. This was reported on September 30, 2024 in. Ministry of Finance Russia

Deputy Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation Aleksei Lavrov noted that all procurement processes in the EAEU countries are built at a high level in terms of legal regulation. At the same time, according to him, in the field of digitalization of procurement, some issues require improvement. This is, in particular, the mutual recognition of bank guarantees. Removing the corresponding obstacles will fully reveal all the advantages of digitalization.

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Minfin.gov.ru

Lavrov speaks of the importance of recognizing electronic digital signature in the EAEU space. Due to its absence, changes were previously prepared to allow suppliers from the EAEU states to send acceptance certificates on paper to customers. An important area of ​ ​ joint work is also called a reduction in the timing of purchases and the ability to introduce electronic stores. According to the deputy minister, in Russia, purchases are completely translated into electronic form, which, in particular, made it possible to reduce the payment period for state contracts to 7 days. According to Lavrov, it is important to reduce the timing of procurement at the Eurasian level as a whole. In addition, as noted, restrictions should be lifted for the wider use of electronic stores.

Earlier, the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) approved a list of measures to fully digitalize public procurement in the EAEU countries. The document provides for the study of issues related to the formation of the legal framework for all competitive procurement procedures in electronic format using an electronic digital signature, as well as reducing the timing of such procedures.^[2]

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin lists the main areas of digitalization of the EAEU

On October 1, 2024, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin outlined the key vectors for digital development of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The head of government stressed the need to ensure the technological independence of the association and accelerate the introduction of technologies in all spheres of the economy.

According to Interfax, the Russian Prime Minister called on the EAEU countries to rely solely on their own developments in the digital sphere. He warned against using solutions from unfriendly countries, which could lead to trade and administrative barriers and undermine the foundations of integration.

source = Kremlin Website

Mikhail Mishustin identified several priority areas of digitalization of the EAEU. Among them are the establishment of the production of competitive digital solutions and the expansion of cooperation between the leading technology companies of the participating countries. Mishustin paid special attention to the issue of technological sovereignty, noting that Russia already provides itself with more than 50% of domestic server platforms and information storage systems.

As an example of successful digitalization, the head of the Russian government cited the launch of the creation of base stations on Russian software for 4G and 5G networks. He announced plans to establish mass production of such solutions in 2025.

The Prime Minister stressed that Russia is ready to offer its partners in the EAEU its modern technologies, digital platforms and electronic devices. He called on the countries of the union to switch to these developments, forming additional demand and strengthening common digital sovereignty.

In addition, Mikhail Mishustin focused on the need for more active protection of the common EAEU digital technology market from non-regional companies. This, in his opinion, will be an important step in strengthening the economic integration and technological independence of the union.^[3]

Large-scale project of digitalization of technical regulations launched in the EAEU

In September 2024, a large-scale project for the digitalization of technical regulations was launched in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The main goal of the initiative is to translate regulations into a machine-readable format and create a single digital platform for developing and updating product requirements.

According to Reedus, the project was initiated by the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and developed as part of the EAEU digital transformation program until 2025. The main tasks of digitalization of technical regulations include the introduction of a "single window" system for all requirements established in the EAEU countries, and the creation of a convenient digital environment for all market participants. This innovation will speed up the development and updating of uniform safety requirements, ensuring the freedom of movement of goods within the union.

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According to Maxim Kim, Deputy Director of the EEC Technical Regulation and Accreditation Department, the EAEU countries have transferred part of their powers to the supranational level, which contributes to integration within the Union.

The countries transferred part of their powers to the supranational level, and the treaty defines four freedoms, one of which is to ensure the freedom of movement of goods, Kim stressed.

Digitalization of technical regulations is a key element for ensuring the free movement of goods in the EAEU space. It will not only speed up the development and updating of regulations, but will also allow all stakeholders - from manufacturers and suppliers to compliance assessment bodies - to interact within a single digital platform. This will increase transparency and efficiency of work, as well as reduce the time for new products to enter the market.

According to the Eurasian Economic Commission, the project will be implemented in five stages, covering the time period until mid-2024. The first stage includes the deployment of work and the creation of a service system, then the platform will be filled with data and put into commercial operation. All stages will be funded by the commission.^[4]

State operator of electronic trade created in EAEU

A new institute has been launched in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) - an electronic trade operator. This became known in early August 2024. Its main task will be to provide logistics and customs support for goods purchased through international Internet sites. Read more here.

The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation allocated 59 million rubles for the EAEU IT system

On May 30, 2024, the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation announced a tender for the preparation for the commissioning of components of the Russian segment of the integrated information system of the Eurasian Economic Union (IIS EAEU). The initial contract price is 59.37 million rubles. Read more here

Russian President Vladimir Putin: Digitalization has become one of the main directions of the EAEU agenda

Digitalization is one of the priorities of the integration agenda. Within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) framework of the organization, a unified information system is successfully developing, containing information on foreign economic activity. This was announced on May 8, 2024 by the president. Russia Vladimir Putin

According to him, the EAEU has shown effectiveness in the light of the current geopolitical situation, including in the face of new challenges related to the "policy of sanctions pursued by some countries." The partnership between the states of the association in the field of transport and logistics is expanding. So, for tracking, control and safety of cargo transportation, high-tech navigation seals are used. In addition, electronic shipping documents and other digital solutions are widely implemented.

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As Putin emphasized, within the framework of digitalization, unified standards for the exchange of electronic data have been developed and applied, and the agreed rules of digital commerce are in force. In case of mutual recognition of electronic signatures used in the countries of Eurases, the efficiency of the common market will increase, and business processes will become even more efficient and convenient for both entrepreneurs and consumers.

I would like to note the well-coordinated interaction of the Eurases participants in building a unified transport system, work on the project of the largest international corridor "North-South," which will ensure the direct exit of our countries' products to ports on the coast of the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, "said Vladimir Putin.

The topic of digitalization was also touched upon by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. He stressed the need to concentrate on the early recognition of the electronic digital signature.

We have been talking about this for several years. All fundamental agreements have long been reached, but things are still there. But this is not a political, but a technical issue, but it often becomes an insurmountable barrier to the participation of Eurasian business in the economic processes of the countries of the union, Lukashenka said.[5]

EAEU countries create a unified IT system for controlling the cost of imported goods

Following the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (EMPS), held on February 2, 2024 in Alma-Ata, the governments of the EAEU member countries decided to create a unified risk management system (RMS). The creation and application of the country's system should be ensured by April 1, 2024.

The initiator of the creation of the RMS, according to Vedomosti, was Russia. The customs authorities of the Union, as part of the work on the system, will have the legislative opportunity to control goods issued in one member state and brought to another. Such an opportunity is required to build a unified system for controlling the correctness of the statement of the customs value of goods imported from countries that are not members of the union within the EAEU borders. So, there have already been cases when electric cars were brought to Russia from Kyrgyzstan at an underestimated customs cost. Because of this, revenues to the budget of Russia are reduced, as it has measures to develop domestic production of electric vehicles.

source = Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation

As the representative of the Federal Customs Service told Vedomosti, at this stage the decision of the Eurasian Economic Commission is important. The FCS will administer under the new rules after the decision of the supranational body.

Customs lawyer Mikhail Shavernev believes that within the framework of the new risk management system, product risk profiles will be created that are binding on all EAEU member countries. Then, for example, if the cost of an electric car BYD E6 when imported into the Russian Federation is lower than the $15,000 specified in the risk profile, then all customs of the member countries of the union will be required to start inspections. Shavernev also noted that these innovations do not mean a desire to prohibit parallel imports.^[6]

2023

Russian GLONASS technologies will be used for the development of Eurasian Agroexpress

Russian technologies of GLONASS JSC will be used for the development of Eurasian Agroexpress. GLONASS announced this on September 11, 2023.

To ensure food security of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, import independence of IT products and the economic efficiency of accelerated railway and multimodal transportation of agricultural products, the "Continuous Cold Chain" will be implemented at all logistics stages of the Eurasian Agroexpress. Read more here.

"Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine of the Moscow Department of Health" will be able to assess the performance of AI systems of the EAEU countries

The Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine of the Moscow Department of Health has the opportunity to conduct technical tests and studies of medical systems of artificial intelligence for registration within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Thus, developers can obtain permission to apply their developments simultaneously in the Russian Federation, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. This will speed up the introduction of technologies into medical practice, and patients will receive faster and better diagnostics. This was announced on September 5, 2023 by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development Anastasia Rakova. Read more here.

EAEU countries agree to mutually recognize electronic digital signatures

Countries Eurasian Economic Union () EEU have agreed to mutually recognize electronic digital signatures (). EDS The corresponding decision was made at a meeting of the board Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) on August 22, 2023.

According to the EEC press service, the rules for mutual recognition of EDS in cross-border B2G (Business-to-Government) interactions on the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union have been approved. Thanks to this, those working in different EAEU countries will be able to use the same EDS for interaction with state bodies. This means that there will be no need to receive separate EDS for each country, which will greatly simplify the process and reduce administrative costs.

The countries of the Eurasian Economic Union agreed to mutually recognize electronic digital signatures

In fact, rules aimed at regulating interactions of the B2G type create the basis for ensuring the provision of interstate services in electronic form. We can say that this is our first approach to organizing inter-public services, "stressed Varos Simonyan, Minister for Internal Markets, Informatization, Information and Communication Technologies of the EEC.

In the long term, this decision will contribute to the development of cross-border trade and integration in the EAEU. The implementation of the new rules will require the refinement of trusted third parties of the ECE and member states, originally created only for interstate G2G (Government-to-Government) interaction. The main work is scheduled for 2023.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of the Russian Federation supported the mutual recognition of the electronic digital signature by the EAEU countries and noted that the development of electronic document management and the use of EDS in cross-border international projects is a fundamentally new engine of progress that will allow us to switch to a qualitatively different level of interaction when concluding interstate contracts, increasing the efficiency of business processes.^[7]

The EAEU presented the blockchain platform of the commodity distribution network

In mid-June 2023 Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) , he announced the blockchain platform of the distribution network. EEU The project was implemented with the participation of the IT company "" Proxy(part of the "" group InfoTeCS). More. here

What IT issues were discussed at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council with the participation of Putin

On May 25, 2023, the President Russia Vladimir Putin opened a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. The event in the Kremlin is also attended by presidents, and Belarus, Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Alexander Lukashenko Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and, as well as Sadyr Japarov Prime Minister Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich. Presidents Uzbekistan Tajikistan and Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Emomali Rahmon joined on. video conference Part of the conversation between the leaders of the countries was devoted to development. information technology In particular, Putin invited the countries participating in the formation of a single digital ecosystem.

On the agenda is ensuring the digital sovereignty of the EurAsEC. Let me remind you that Russia initiated the process of establishing a partnership of the five in the IT sphere back in 2017. It is important that the member states of the union form a single digital ecosystem, which would imply the integration of the national systems of electronic public services and electronic governments of each of the five participants. I dare assure you that Russia has moved far enough here and made a very good reserve, "the Russian leader said during a speech at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in an expanded composition.

Session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council

He noted that by 2023, "well-coordinated efforts to strengthen technological sovereignty in the backbone sectors of the economy, to achieve genuine technological self-sufficiency" are especially in demand. The President of the Russian Federation proposed to agree and implement uniform priorities for technological transformation and innovative cooperation, which would allow the countries of the Eurasian Union not to depend on critical industries on foreign technologies and companies.

You can also think about creating Eurasian technological alliances with the involvement of interested partners from third countries. The goal of such alliances could be the organization on the territory of our states of new science-intensive high-tech industries, the president said.[8]

2022

Ministry of Industry and Trade asked for joint development of chips by EAEU countries

On September 22, 2022, it became known that the Ministry of Industry and Trade asked for the joint development of chips by the EAEU countries (Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan). The corresponding proposals were prepared by the Eurasian Economic Commission ( EEC).

As Kommersant writes with reference to a letter from the chairman of the EEC board Mikhail Myasnikovich to the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, it is proposed to initiate the development of an interstate program for the development of the semiconductor industry in the member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union.

The head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov is invited to initiate the development of an interstate program for the development of the semiconductor industry

Шаблон:Quote 'It is advisable to position the development of the semiconductor sphere as one of the projects - symbols of Eurasian integration, - said Mikhail Myasnikovich, who suggested that Manturov, if supported, "give instructions to the authorized bodies." According to Myasnikovich, the European Union and the United States have already "intensified work on the development of the microelectronics sector" and are preparing to invest €43 billion and $52 billion in the development of the semiconductor industry, respectively. The ECE has prepared proposals for financing industrial projects and plans to submit them to the intergovernmental council in the fourth quarter of 2022, he said.

Nikolai Komlev, Executive Director of the Association of Computer and Information Technology Enterprises (APKIT), called the EEC initiative correct, but noted that under the conditions of sanctions, any real cooperation should be non-public between manufacturers, and not at the level of state colleges and other public structures.

The founder of the design center of the SPC Elvis"" Jaroslav Petrichkovich in a conversation with the publication expressed doubt that the idea would bring results.

{{quote 'Microelectronics in the EAEU countries is weak, rather even absent, so the only country that can help Russia has been and remains China, "he explained^[9] }}

Approved a plan for the digitalization of public procurement in the EAEU

On August 23, 2022, the board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) approved a list of measures to fully digitalize public procurement in the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The approved ECE document contains a clause on the revision of the functionality of electronic trading platforms for working with electronic digital signatures.

According to Kommersant, the EEC unifies approaches to public procurement in the EAEU, which will ensure equal access to their national markets. The board's decision contains several groups of purchasing measures. In particular, this is the formation of a legal basis for competitive procurement in electronic format, which will require amendments to the EAEU agreement of May 29, 2014. Until the end of 2022, the EEC will only have to "work out the question of the feasibility" of such amendments.

Председатель коллегии Евразийской экономической комиссии Михаил Мясникович.
Фото: Александр Коряков, Kommersant

According to Pavel Zhukovsky, deputy head of the EEC Department of Competitive Policy and Public Procurement Policy, the study was required to clarify the wording, after which a draft change will already be prepared.

Two more blocks of measures are subject to study until July 2023 and require practical changes from the EAEU countries - this is the improvement of the functionality of electronic platforms (in terms of reporting, automation of the qualifications of participants and maintaining registers of contracts, complaints and unscrupulous suppliers) and the creation of new InformSystems (register of bank guarantees, catalogs of standardized goods, register of goods and their manufacturers, monitoring collusion in procurement).

According to a member of the board, EEC Minister for Competition and Antimonopoly Regulation Arman Shakkaliev, a working group of representatives of authorized bodies and operators of trading systems will be created to implement the measures. The minister expects that the document will ensure full access for suppliers of all EAEU countries to participate in each other's procurement.^[10]

Ministry of Industry and Trade limits government purchases of computer equipment and servers in the EAEU

On July 18, 2022, it became known about the new version of the rules developed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to determine the country of origin of computer equipment and radio electronics in the European-Asian Economic Union (EAEU). From July 1, 2022, access to the computer procurement market is possible only if it is available in the Eurasian register of industrial products. The rules for getting into it regulate the project of the department.

According to the Kommersant newspaper, citing this document, Russia insists on determining the country of origin of electronics according to rules similar to those designed for government decree No. 719 of July 17, 2015 (to confirm the Russian origin of goods). According to them, electronics manufacturers from the EAEU will have to have a full stack of design documentation for the product, exclusive rights to the trademark and samples of the source code of the software, their own production facilities or contract assembly in the country. In addition, companies will not have to be under the control of foreign structures.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade closes the defense of the state order from Western computing equipment

On the other hand, the Ministry of Industry and Trade believes that with the help of the EAEU, especially through Kazakhstan and Armenia, which are not under sanctions, it is possible to ensure expanded supplies of scarce electronics to the regular user market, and not limit manufacturers and suppliers of computer equipment from the EAEU by maintaining only Russian collectors who by mid-July 2022 do not have enough components to produce computers.

As the newspaper notes, these requirements are an attempt to avoid a situation in which the profit from the supply of "re-labeled" computer equipment to Russia from a state order remains in the EAEU countries.^[11]

2021

Half of the invited countries did not appear at the EAEU meeting on digital integration

On October 25, 2021, a Europe-Asia video bridge was held on the topic: "EAEU Digital Space: Challenges and Achievements," broadcast online. According to MIA "Russia Today," representatives of ministries responsible for IT were invited to participate in it in the EAEU participating countries - the Russian Federation, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic. Also at the online meeting, a representative of the Ministry for the Development of IT and Communications of the Republic of Uzbekistan was expected. This country, which left the Eurasian Economic Community in 2008, now has observer status in the EAEU, and the countries of the Union are its main trading partners^[12].

At the meeting, however, not all declared officials from these countries appeared. In addition to the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation, from which Deputy Minister Maxim Parshin was present, Minister of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus Konstantin Shulgan and Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia Vaagn Khachaturian took part in the video bridge. Representatives from the relevant ministries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan did not appear and did not involve one of their deputies to replace themselves.

Director of the IT Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission Alexander Aleksanyan during a video bridge spoke about the key digital projects of the EAEU

Director of the IT Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Alexander Aleksanyan during the video bridge noted that the formation of the digital space of the EAEU is one of the strategic directions for the development of Eurasian integration. In this vein, as of 2021, several EAEU integration projects are being implemented with a "figure" at the heart.

One of them is the Work Without Borders job search project, which started in July 2021. It actually became the beginning of the formation of a full-fledged ecosystem of employment for citizens of the Union. The project allows applicants to find a suitable vacancy in any EAEU country, and employers to find employees. This project involves 5 national information systems: in Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan. To find a job, just register in one of these systems.

In the future, it is planned to improve the system: in particular, to introduce electronic contracts, thanks to which the applicant can receive a guarantee of the execution of the employment contract, - said Alexander Aleksanyan.

Another important project of the Union is the Eurasian Network of Industrial Cooperation, Subcontracting and Technology Transfer. It was supported by the Prime Ministers of the EAEU countries and involves the creation of an automated system to provide the economic entities of the Union countries with a mechanism for selecting the most effective partners, the possibility of involving SMB enterprises in the production chains of large manufacturers. As a result of the implementation of this project, access to a geographically distributed set of services of the EAEU member states will be provided.

One of the new ones is the Digital Technical Regulation project, the main goal of which is to digitalize the processes of forming mandatory product requirements, developing technical regulations and lists of international and regional standards in the field of technical regulation. Implementation is planned until the end of 2023. At the first stage, it is envisaged to create three main services, which will be provided free of charge:

• on the development of technical regulations and standards for them;
• service for the formation of a single list of products, in respect of which mandatory requirements are established;
• a service for digitizing a complete set of data on mandatory product requirements.

Within the framework of this project, more than 10 thousand documents will have to be digitized, - said Alexander Aleksanyan.

Another important project, the director of the EEC IT department called the "Ecosystem of Digital Transport Corridors," which is an open environment for the exchange of logistics information. The ecosystem integrates information about vehicles, cargo, permits and accompanying documents at all stages of transportation.

All of the above projects, along with one of the main projects - an integrated information system - can become the basis of the ecosystem of digital services of our Union, added Aleksanyan.

According to him, the project of the integrated information system of the EAEU, in particular, should receive a second wind. What is meant by this, the director of the EEC IT department did not specify.

Earlier, the Accounts Chamber found that this project is not all right. Thus, in the resolution of the Federation Council of June 23, 2021 on the prospects for integration processes within the EAEU, with reference to the Accounts Chamber, it is noted that the integrated information system of the EAEU does not function in full.

According to the results of inspections of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation, the annual formation of significant balances of funds not used for a long time in the execution of the EAEU budget, which arise from the costs of creating an integrated information system of the EAEU, is noted, - says the resolution of the Federation Council[13].

The integrated system is designed to ensure the interstate exchange of data and electronic documents within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, the creation of information resources common to member states, the implementation of common processes, as well as ensuring the activities of the Union bodies. Work on its creation and development is carried out in accordance with the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union of May 29, 2014.

Returning to the topic of digital integration, the position of Russia in this area was voiced by the Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Maxim Parshin. According to him, the priority is to equalize the conditions for the functioning of Russian and international IT companies. It is extremely important here to act in close coordination with colleagues from the EAEU.

As an indicative example of digital integration, the deputy minister cited the register of Eurasian software. Now the software products included in this register enjoy the same benefits in public procurement as software from Russia.

We propose to activate development companies from the EAEU countries to include Eurasian software in the register, on the one hand. On the other hand, we propose to continue work on harmonizing the legislation of our countries in terms of providing unified tools to support companies and products originating from the EAEU countries in the territories of all our countries, "said Maxim Parshin.

The new direction that the deputy minister proposed to jointly think about is efforts to develop open source development, open source software.

At the online meeting, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia Vaagn Khachaturian noted that the Eurasian economic space was created in order to find opportunities for deeper integration of the states leading to it, be it economic and non-economic ties. And the digitalization of the economy allows this idea to be implemented, he believes.

A working group on digital transformation is being created in the EAEU

At a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council on August 20, 2021, a decision was made to form a high-level working group (RGVU) on digital transformation, according to the portal of the Eurasian Economic Commission. The main purpose of the creation is to work out an agreement on the turnover of data in the union.

The working group will be headed by the Minister for Internal Markets, Informatization, ICT EEC Gegham Vardanyan. The RGVU will include heads or deputy heads of authorized bodies of the EAEU states responsible for the development and implementation of programs for the digital transformation of sectors of the economy.

The working group will be headed by the Minister for Internal Markets, Informatization, ICT EEC Gegham Vardanyan "(photo - eec.eaeunion.org)"

The creation of a working group is an important and necessary tool for developing agreed solutions and approaches to digital transformation in the EAEU. Basically, we are talking about an agreement on data circulation. The working group will make it possible to more quickly develop and adopt unified principles for the effective exchange of data within the union, Gegham Vardanyan said.

In addition to the agreement on data circulation, the task of the RGVU will be to develop approaches to the implementation of priority areas of the digital agenda, digital transformation of sectors of the economy, markets for goods, services, capital and labor, as well as the development of digital infrastructure in the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union.

At the RGVU, it is planned to create expert subgroups, which will include representatives of interested government bodies and representatives of business communities of the Union countries.

Mishustin spoke about the consequences of delaying digitalization in the EAEU

Delaying digitalization and unification of customs administration in the EAEU will lead to the return of control at the borders between the countries of the Union. TASS Information Agency of Russia reported this on February 5, 2020 from the words of Prime Minister RFMikhail Mishustin.

Colleagues, the threat to our economies and sovereignty is not the common digital platforms and systems, but their absence. If you do not create them in order to ensure the transparency of common commodity markets, then, in fact, this will be tantamount to the restoration of customs at the borders between countries. This is what we walked away from, creating the Union. If we delay digitalization and unification, including customs administration and other types of control on the external circuit, for everyone the same, we will have to return to control measures at the internal border, he said.

According to the Russian prime minister, the joint digital platform of the EAEU should be aimed at improving a person's life in a business environment, only so people will feel that integration is really beneficial.

The digital platform will contribute to the removal of barriers that prevent the formation of a single market for goods, services, capital and labor within the Union. It should be built taking into account national interests and with the conjugation of our information systems. Only in this way, together, we will be able to develop our economies, - the head of the Russian government is convinced.

It is necessary to introduce unified digital accounting systems identifications citizens and businesses, to remove the problem of recognition. digital electronic signature I think that EEC (Eurasian Economic Commission) I could more actively deal with these issues, - he summed up.

The prime minister also believes that states without their own digital platforms risk getting into information, political and economic dependence on other people's decisions.

According to Mishustin, Russia fully supports the initiative that comprehensive digitalization should become the driving force for the development of the EAEU, but it is important to answer the question on what basis this will happen. According to Mishustin, the Eurasian Council should give the five states the opportunity to develop a common digital platform and thus benefit from a large economy, while maintaining national sovereignty.

He also said that success in deepening integration in the EAEU space will depend, among other things, on the introduction of joint electronic services.

It is necessary to form conditions for fair and transparent mutual trade, more actively remove infrastructure restrictions, revealing transit potential, conduct a dialogue, of course, with the European Union, as well as continue to combine Eurasian integration with the Chinese Belt and Road initiative, the Russian prime minister explained. - All this can be implemented only on the basis of a common digital platform. In practice, we see, frankly, a cautious approach of partners to digitalization in the "five" space.

Mishustin explained that, unfortunately, there are attempts to postpone the introduction of joint digital platforms to February 2021, to maintain national rules and systems^[14].

2017

The main directions of the digital agenda until 2025

On October 11, 2017, the EAEU countries approved the main directions of the union's digital agenda until 2025. The areas of development of the digital economy within the framework of this document include:

• digital transformation of sectors of the economy and cross-industry transformation;
• digital transformation of the markets for goods, services, capital and labor;
• digital transformation of management processes and integration processes;
• development of digital infrastructure and ensuring the security of digital processes.

Each area determines a special range of cooperation issues when discussing initiatives in the development of the digital economy. The parties use a common framework of directions to systematize proposals for cooperation within the framework of the Digital Agenda, preparation and implementation of joint projects.

According to the head of government, of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev three elements of the ^[15] can be included in digital integration within the Union, the ^[16] was ^[17] by ^[18]

• The first, under the conditional name EAEU Data X, is a single subsystem for the transmission and exchange of data in electronic form. This is a platform that can be used to exchange information, and ultimately to exchange legally relevant protocols between private companies.
• The second element - EAEU ID - is a single space of electronic trust. It includes services of identification, authentication, authorization, digital archive. This will allow, for example, to issue certificates to citizens of one country on the territory of another in digital format.
• The third element - EAEU Geo - is a geo-information system and services of the cartographic basis, which contribute to the simplification of control over the transportation and traceability of goods.

"Such tools will create the contour of our interaction," said the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. - Of course, we will have to agree on common standards, on linking national decisions. We are ready to provide our competencies to all our friends and partners on a practically free basis. "

Speaking about cryptocurrency, Dmitry Medvedev noted that its regulation cannot be implemented within only one country and should be supranational. "It is necessary to bring our approaches closer together at the level of the Union. I'm not talking about the fact that ideally, international conventions should be prepared for crypto assets, "the head of the Russian government said.

Digital transformation of sectors of the economy and cross-industry transformation

Digital transformation of sectors of the economy and cross-sectoral transformation in the Union - the direction of development of the digital economy at the sectoral and inter-sectoral levels of interaction between the parties. Digital transformation brings the greatest effects at the junctions of industries, when using multidisciplinary knowledge about consumers, when establishing cross-industry (penetrating, end-to-end) processes, developing digital infrastructure, digital cross-industry platforms and the emergence of new economic models on their basis.

The digital transformation of industries relies on the results of process automation, but consists in the end-to-end digitalization of all physical assets and their integration into a digital eco-system based on a digital platform or complexes of digital platforms.

The digital transformation of industries is carried out in cooperation with partners participating in the value chain based on the use of digital models, end-to-end processes and useful data.

Digital transformation of sectors of the economy takes place in several planes: vertical integration of processes within the industry and within enterprises of the industry; horizontal integration of processes and construction of cross-industry and cross-country processes; digitalization of products, services, business models and customer access.

The digital transformation of industries is considered in conjunction with the information resources and information systems of the member states and the Union. Key trends in cross-industry digital transformation:

• interaction of various sectors of the economy,
• the emergence of new business models and end-to-end digital processes through traditional industry junctions,
• cross-border cooperation.

The main source of capitalization in the digital economy is digital platforms and digital resources. Cooperation of the EAEU member states on the development of the data industry will allow not only to normalize the use of data (from personal to industrial), but also to create conditions for the emergence of new segments of the digital economy, new practices for the circulation of useful data, taking into account the requirements of national legislation in these areas.

Digital assets can be built on new business models and technologies ("big data" processing technologies; artificial intelligence; methods and technologies for supporting decision-making based on accumulated and "historical" data and monitoring data of a managed facility, etc.), which have the prospect of further development and the possibility of using complex solutions based on several technologies in the implementation of assets.

The digital platform is the basis for technological activities connecting business entities with end-to-end processes. Therefore, on one digital platform, around one digital images (objects), interested participants from various traditional and new industries can be gathered.

The formation of such digital assets by residents of the states of the Union increases their competitiveness, allows them to constantly receive additional intellectual and material value and benefits to their owners and jurisdictions, accumulating competencies for entering global markets. As part of integration cooperation, by 2018, industries in which cooperation is carried out (industry, agriculture, transport, power, trade, pharmaceuticals and others) were determined, in each of which a set of initiatives can be implemented, cooperation can be formed from interested participants in the business community, but with the support of states and the Union in terms of investments in the complex foundation of digital platforms. To develop the digital economy in this direction, it is necessary to form and develop digital platforms and ecosystems, a favorable environment for the production and turnover of digital innovations, support for digital startups and other projects for the development of the digital economy.

Digital transformation of goods, services, capital and labor markets

During the digital transformation of markets, the business environment for consumers and manufacturers should reduce costs, reduce the layer of intermediaries, reduce barriers when entering new markets, with new opportunities for businesses and citizens to provide services using the Internet. Interaction in the regulatory and legal sphere is required, which will create favorable conditions for the implementation of project initiatives within the framework of the digital agenda.

The digital transformation of the EAEU markets will lead to the development of the digital market, within the framework of which it is necessary to ensure the free movement of goods and services, capital and labor. This will require alignment of regulatory change models across all common and unified Union markets with a common digital agenda.

The digital transformation of the goods and services market will lead to a significant simplification of trade procedures through the transition to digital form, the active use of electronic commerce, as well as the effective implementation and use of single window mechanisms in economic activity.

The ongoing digital transformation of the market for goods and services will require further harmonization in the field of rules for conducting cross-border electronic trade, stimulating digital business, coordinating actions in the field of protecting the rights to intellectual property objects and consumers of the digital market, as well as including issues of regulating cooperation in the field of the digital economy on the agenda of trade negotiations of the Union with third countries.

Digital transformations of the Eurases capital market and financial markets of the Union states will have a significant impact on the development of the economies of the Union states. Member States are committed to creating conditions for the promotion of fintech innovation, the development of joint mechanisms for risk, alternative and venture financing of digital innovation.

Digital transformation launches mechanisms for transforming the labor market, as a result of which the balance of supply and demand for labor resources will significantly change. The qualifications and skills of the workforce will have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the Union's economic transformation processes. These challenges create the need to create the conditions for the development of professional digital skills and creative potential of people, which are important components for a consistent increase in labor productivity.

A number of measures will be aimed at eliminating the projected shortage of highly qualified labor resources and the formation of their reserve, as well as regulatory measures to ensure the mobility of labor resources, create conditions for the development of remote hiring and employment. In order to improve the efficiency of digital market transformations, closer cooperation is needed between the member states of the Union and the businesses of the member states, aimed at exchanging knowledge, information and experience in such a way as to reduce obstacles in the development of economic integration, increase competencies in digital transformations and form digital business cooperation.

Digital transformation of management and integration processes in the Union

The development of the digital economy in Member States may require the transformation of existing procedures and management models based on digital processes, primarily by ensuring interoperability and digital transformation at the state and supranational level. This direction creates a common foundation for the implementation of the digital agenda, including the maintenance of the architecture of processes and digital projects of the Union. The digital transformation of management processes and integration processes in the Union includes changing the procedures for preparing regulatory documents of the Union (the introduction of a mandatory stage of preliminary modeling of processes and norms, with the subsequent transition to process regulation), the creation of mechanisms for ensuring the development and implementation of projects within the framework of the digital agenda.

A special project in this direction is the development of the capabilities of the integrated information system of the Union and the development on its basis of the digital platform of the Union, the creation by member states of the necessary services for citizens and business entities, ensuring the access of citizens, business entities and business networks to interstate electronic services (digital services), creating conditions for the formation and use of digital platforms in interstate information interaction ("business networks"), the development of digital ecosystems of unified regulatory reference information.

In this regard, it will be necessary to implement in the law of the Union new norms on the digital transformation of management processes and integration processes, their reengineering, international cooperation, the use of digital models, procedures, procedures, standards and project management methodology.

Digital Infrastructure Development and Digital Process Security

Digital Infrastructure Development and Digital Process Security - Collaboration for Infrastructure Sustainability, Continuity, and Reliability for development of initiatives and implementation of projects, as well as framework projects for the development of digital infrastructure in general. For the development of cross-border services and the formation of new value chains, the creation of interoperable seamless digital infrastructure, the transition to the latest generation networks and the development of a cross-border space of trust, as well as the digital transformation of transport, energy and other industry infrastructures, a holistic set of projects will be required.

First of all, member states and the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) will need to identify critical digital infrastructures (shared and ensuring integration processes), develop a general procedure for ensuring the security of such digital processes and infrastructures, including, if necessary, the development and implementation of international protection of protocols and procedures developed taking into account the tasks of the EAEU.

The conceptual plan should define a set of directions for ensuring the sustainability of the functioning of the digital space in relation to the effects of external threats and internal adverse factors.

Initiative Management Office

The office was formed in accordance with the Procedure for working out initiatives within the framework of the implementation of the digital agenda of the Union, approved by Decision of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council of October 25, 2017  No. 4, in order to ensure a transparent, effective and accelerated study of the initiative from the formation to the initiation of the project.

Tasks:

• general organization and coordination of work on the development of initiatives within the framework of the implementation of the digital agenda of the Union, the creation and development of a digital market within the Union;
• development of proposals for the preparation of initiatives within the framework of the implementation of the Union's digital agenda in cases where the Commission is the initiator;
• participation together with structural units of the Commission in the preparation of initiatives within the framework of the implementation of the digital agenda of the Union in cases where the Commission is the initiator;
• participation in the work of the expert platform for discussion and detailed elaboration of the initiative;
• participation in the development of the terms of reference for the study;
• organization of monitoring and control of the initiative management process.

World Bank presented an overview of the EAEU Digital Agenda

In 2017, the World Bank presented an overview of the EAEU Digital Agenda with its recommendations.

Full World Bank Review PDF

ECE presented draft Guidelines for the digital agenda

At least 11% of the expected total GDP growth of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) by 2025 will ensure the implementation of digital projects and initiatives. If the countries of the Union do not ensure the synchronization of their efforts to implement the digital agenda, its contribution to GDP growth will be half as low. This is stated in the draft Main Directions for the Implementation of the Digital Agenda^[19] of the Council of the^[20] Economic Union until 2025, which is posted on the legal portal of the Eurasian Economic Commission ( EEC) for public discussion.

The most significant sources of GDP growth due to the implementation of the general digital agenda may be factors such as the elimination of regulatory barriers and the development of the data economy, each of which will give an annual increase in EAEU GDP by 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively. The increase in employment in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) will provide an additional increase in total employment in the Union countries by 2.46% by 2025. By the same year, an additional increase in the volume of exports of ICT services can reach up to 74%.

The draft Guidelines for the implementation of the digital agenda were prepared by the governments of the member states together with the Commission in pursuance of the instructions of the heads of the EAEU countries. It defines the goals, principles, objectives, directions and mechanisms of cooperation between the states of the Union in the digital sphere.

According to the main directions, the countries of the Union independently develop, form and implement national policies in the fields of digitalization, communications and informatization, but adhere to an agreed policy in this area. Working together on the digital agenda will encourage and support new digital initiatives and projects; speed up the free movement of goods, services, capital and labor; will increase the competitiveness of economic entities and citizens through digital transformations in all spheres of society; will create conditions for the sustainable development of the economies of the states of the Union during the transition to new technological and economic structures; ensure the cooperation of economic entities on the basis of end-to-end digital processes, the creation and development of digital assets; introduce the EAEU states into global, macro-regional and regional processes of digital transformation, taking into account the emergence of new opportunities and risks; will support dialogue between all interested organizations and citizens of the Union countries to promote best practices in the field of the digital economy, etc.

The implementation of the digital agenda of the Union is possible, among other things, through the development of special mechanisms for the development and coordination of initiatives by member states; implementation of projects within the framework of the digital agenda; application of "regulatory sandboxes," etc.

Joint initiatives and projects within the framework of the digital agenda will significantly expand the capabilities of states, citizens and economic entities both within the EAEU and in foreign markets.

Stakeholders will be able to submit initiatives to the Commission, which, with the participation of the expert platform, is working out and coordinating them with member states.

After the development and approval of the initiative, a project is formed. For its implementation, member states have the opportunity to work out various financing mechanisms, such as mechanisms for targeted and project financing, mechanisms based on consortia and public-private partnerships, including mechanisms using a service model developed by attracting financing institutions, including the Eurasian Development Bank.

The draft Guidelines are also accompanied by a draft list of priority initiatives within the framework of the EAEU digital agenda. The list was compiled on the basis of proposals from representatives of state authorities and business of the Union countries, as well as members of working groups at the initial stage of working out the digital agenda of the EAEU. Among the proposals are initiatives on digital traceability, digital industrial cooperation, the development of electronic commerce and others.

ECE proposes to synchronize digital agendas in industry

In early 2017, the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) sent proposals to the governments of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to support a number of initiatives to digitalize economies within the framework of industrial policy and structure this activity in the EAEU countries. ECE proposals include the concept of creating "digital factories" with mechanisms for its implementation. The concept should cover all stages of production, from design to the receipt of the finished product^[21].

Key technologies include additive manufacturing high-performance automated lines for the rapid production of electronic component base, technologies software and robotic production management, national//, CADCAECAM systems new assembly production technologies, and product lifecycle management systems. The Digital Factory project is closely related to the concepts "" Industry 4.0() Germany and "Digital Production" (). USA

According to Sergei Sidorsky, a member of the College (Minister) for Industry and Agro-Industrial Complex of the EEC, it is advisable for the countries of the union to synchronize the work on the implementation of national digital agendas with the digital agenda in the field of industry of the member states. This will allow the implementation of common technological digital platforms, system and end-to-end projects.

"According to our data, the share of the digital economy to GDP in the EAEU countries is already more than 2.8%, or $85 billion. Almost the entire effect of digitalization is concentrated in sectors of the economy such as finance, trade, entertainment and media. In the field of industry and the agro-industrial complex, the share of the digital economy is still insignificant, "said Sergey Sidorsky

According to the EEC industrial block and estimates of consulting companies, the share of the digital economy in global GDP is 5.5%. Digitalization can bring an additional more than $30 trillion in revenues for the global economy until 2025. Experts note that by 2020 more than 50 billion devices and things will be connected to the Internet. Software has become an integral part of most manufactured manufactured goods, sometimes reaching 90% in the final value of the goods. For example, automakers note that in the coming years, about 50% of the cost of the car will be "digital" filling.

According to a study conducted by the EEC industrial block, all prerequisites for the digital transformation of industry have been created in the EAEU states: a regulatory framework has been formed or began to form, infrastructure has been created, digital platforms in different sectors of the economy are developing.

In addition, within the framework of the EAEU, there is already experience of joint projects in the field of the digital economy, which are related to industry. This is the equipment of vehicles with the ERA-GLONASS system, the introduction of an electronic vehicle passport, the creation of information databases in the field of circulation of medicines, the introduction of a mechanism for monitoring the traceability of goods, the introduction of identification and labeling of certain types of goods, the creation of the Eurasian industrial cooperation network and the Eurasian technology transfer network.

The data necessary to develop common approaches within the EAEU and the analysis of the situation with the digitalization of economies in industry are contained in a special report of the EEC industrial block. A report with the results of the analysis was also sent to the governments of the states of the Union. The document is posted on the ECE information portal in the "Industry" section on the Internet.

It is expected that by March 31, 2017, the Commission will receive information on existing programs, plans and measures of state support for the digital industry in the EAEU countries. The Commission also expects to receive proposals from the EAEU member states for a draft concept for creating conditions for the digital transformation of industry of the EAEU member states and the formation of a single digital space of the EAEU. By the end of 2017, the EEC plans to send a consolidated version of the document to the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union for consideration and revision.

2016: EAEU Digital Agenda Development Plan Approved

On December 26, 2016, at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the heads of member states signed a "Zayavleniye​ on the digital agenda of the EAEU."

By the decision on the formation of the digital agenda, a deadline was set until December 1, 2017 for the development and submission to the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council of the main directions for the implementation of the digital agenda by the end of 2025 by the governments of the member states of the union.

Notes