«Being first, in our view, means being relevant and necessary, so that businesses and citizens of Belarus and Russia can feel the positive impact of the Union State’s existence. This is where we see both opportunities and challenges for the Union State in today’s reality,» said Yuri Seliverstov.

He listed issues that must remain in constant focus. «Unfortunately, we are currently witnessing increased expansion of goods from third countries into the Union State market. Therefore, we need to develop joint solutions and, most importantly, active measures to strengthen the protection of our common market. So I believe that the Standing Committee and I must seriously address this issue and consider what kind of protection Union State goods can receive,» the ambassador said.

«The further development of the Union State requires the formulation of measures aimed at achieving these goals, as well as eliminating systemic differences in granting our businesses access to the common Union State market,» he emphasized.

Yuri Seliverstov also noted that issues resolved within the bilateral framework should subsequently be extended to the Eurasian «five» — the Eurasian Economic Union. «A clear example is the work on recognizing electronic digital signatures, which we are actively pursuing. I believe we will complete it in the near future,» he said.

There are also examples that pose certain risks and concerns. «The SPOT system (the Russian Goods Traceability Confirmation System) and the fight against counterfeit certificates. But I think we must jointly develop all necessary measures to ensure it works as intended. To build a solid and high-quality foundation for moving forward, we must always remain at the forefront of integration processes across the Eurasian space,» the ambassador said.

«There are certain issues within the framework of a common industrial policy. Of course, we have adopted many documents, but the results so far remain relatively modest,» Yuri Seliverstov said. He believes that to ensure food security, it is necessary to conclude an agreement on a common agricultural policy and launch the implementation of Union State projects in agriculture. «Because our colleagues always have many questions on this topic — from signing balance sheets to price regulation — so we need to work actively here as well,» he explained.

The ambassador also cited ensuring equal rights for citizens of Belarus and Russia as an important issue. «Belarusian President Aleksandr Grigoryevich Lukashenko, emphasized during this year’s meeting of the Supreme State Council the importance of being attentive to the needs of our citizens. I believe that in this area as well, it is extremely important to be first, to identify problems first and help find solutions,» Yuri Seliverstov said.

«Interregional cooperation between the regions of the Republic of Belarus and the subjects of Russia remains a serious driver of our bilateral relations. The forums of regions play a special role, so we expect that the upcoming Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, which will take place in Minsk and Minsk Oblast at the end of June, will become another milestone in the development of our union integration,» the ambassador added.