As planned, Armenia officially joined the EEU agreement on 2 January, with Kyrgyzstan is set to join in May.

This union, replacing the Customs Union and the Joint Economic Space, is open to any state that agrees with its principles. The EEU is purely economic.

The main goal of the EEU is synergy from the united potential of member states. Estimates show that the total integration effect for 10 years may add 17 to 20% GDP for every country, worth some $700bn.

The EEU today integrates some 180 mln people, one of the world’s major consumer markets, and the top global energy seller.

Eurasian integration involves free migration of goods, services, capitals and labor forces between member states (the so-called «four freedoms principle»), as well as coordinated macroeconomic and financial policies, transport and energy, trade, production and agriculture.

For the union’s citizens, paperwork requirements will be slashed, and accessing work permits and pensions across the EEU should be as simple as in citizens’ home countries. Medical care and education, including preschool access, is also to be available in all member countries to all citizens of the union.

2025 is the deadline for EEU energy markets integration. On 1 January 2016, the EEU will have a common medicine and healthcare products market in place.

EEU leaders have expressed interest in making official trade contacts with potential partners including the EU immediately, and the union is currently in negotiations over free trade zones with India, Israel, Egypt, and Vietnam.

Project Group №4