19 Facts About Union State

Union State, officially the Union State of Russia and Belarus, is a supranational organisation consisting of Russia and Belarus, with the stated aim of deepening the relationship between the two states through integration in economic and defense policy.

Originally, the Union State aimed to create a confederation both countries currently retain their independence.

The Union State is based on a previous international treaty between Russia and Belarus made on 2 April 1997.

The current president of the Supreme State Council of the Union is Alexander Lukashenko, who has held the position since 2000.

The present goal of the Union State mainly focuses on economic integration, taxation, and integration of defense and intelligence apparatus.

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The Union was ratified by the Russian State Duma on 22 December 1999 and the National Assembly of Belarus on 26 January 2000.

Treaty on the Creation of a Union State creates legal framework as constitutional act and establishes the following institutions.

Union State based on its founding treaties has exclusive jurisdiction over the creation of a single economic space and legal foundations for a common market, monetary union, single tax and pricing policy, unified development and procurement of defense equipment, unified system of technical support for the armed forces.

Union State was first appointed by the Supreme State Council on 26 January 2000 for a four-year term.

The Supreme State Council of the Union includes the member heads of states, respective governments, and both chambers of parliaments.

Supreme State Council makes decisions on issues regarding the security of the member states of the Union including their collective protection from outside threats, the protection of the Union's borders, military development, and many other issues.

Permanent Committee of the Union State is formed as permanent working body of Council of Ministers.

Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State is comprised by two chambers - the House of the Union State and the House of Representatives.

Regular sessions of the Parliamentary Assembly House of the Union State are held twice a year and for Quorum at least two third is needed to be present.

House of the Union State Parliament has president and four vice presidents and 8 permanent committees for different areas of legislature.

Court of Union State should consist of nine judges appointed for six-year terms.

On 1 January 2005, the Union State again failed to introduce a common currency, and it was again postponed by one year, which, in 2006, happened .

The Union State does provide citizens of Russia and Belarus the right to work and permanently settle in either country without formal immigration procedures otherwise mandatory for foreign nationals.

On 27 May 2008, President Lukashenko, acting in his capacity as Chairman of the Supreme Union State Council named then Russian Prime Minister and current President Putin Chairman of the Council of Ministers.