Ana Lourdes González Vilches, specialist of the Directorate of Europe and Canada of Minrex, highlights the importance of our country being part of an economic bloc that is called to grow. Photo: Revolution Studios.

Cuba is the only country in Latin America that holds the status of observer state of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), which really gives us prestige and puts us a high challenge, says Ana Lourdes González Vilches, specialist of the Directorate of Europe and Canada of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrex), who adds that, "at that moment we did not arrive suddenly, It was a gradual process, several years of intense work.

"For Cuba, it is an honor to participate in this integrationist bloc, because it allows us to know first-hand where its development is going," says the Minrex official, just as the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council begins this Thursday in the Russian city of Sochi.

This important event is attended, for the first time in person, by a high-level Caribbean delegation, headed by the member of the Political Bureau and Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, who stressed that "Cuba, as an observer State, reiterates its commitment to strengthen our insertion in this integration mechanism and honor the condition we received just over two years ago."

The Council is one of the organs of the EAEU, what are the purposes of this bloc?

–The EU is an international regional economic integration organisation composed of four bodies: the Eurasian Supreme Economic Council, which functions at the level of presidents of member and observer countries; the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, at the level of prime ministers and heads of government, the Eurasian Economic Commission, which has its seat in Moscow, and the Court.

"It was created in May 2014 and became operational six months later with the incorporation, at first, of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, joined by Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. These five countries have membership status, while Moldova, Uzbekistan and Cuba have observer status.

"Its main objective is to achieve the free movement of goods, services, capital and labour among member countries. In addition, it provides for the strengthening of its internal market through coordinated, harmonized or unified policies in the sectors of the economy. This bloc was founded in order to modernize at the global level, cooperate and increase the competitiveness of national economies and create the conditions for sustainable development, in order to improve the standard of living of the population of the Member States."

For the first time, on December 11, 2020, the Greater Antilles intervened in this type of event. How did the country's participation in this event arrive?

On that date our country is granted the status of Observer of the Union and we participated, for the first time, in a high-level event such as the Eurasian Supreme Economic Council, with the online attendance of the first secretary of the Communist Party and president of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez. Getting there was a gradual process, several years of work, with a view to achieving Cuba's insertion into this bloc.

"The exchanges began practically since 2015, during the XII session of the Intergovernmental Commission between Cuba and Russia. In 2018, the first visit to Cuba of the EAEU was achieved and, in that context, the memorandum of understanding and a first action plan were signed.

"In 2019 there was the visit to our country of Sergei Glazyev, Minister of Integration and Macroeconomics of the Union, who participated in the International Fair of Havana and held meetings at the highest level, and continued working in the search for observer State status. We formally submitted that request in January 2020 and it was finalized at the end of that year."

What does that status mean and how much does it bring to the country?

Cuba saw an opportunity to expand economic, trade and cooperation relations. The status of observer State provides us with better conditions for the registration and positioning of biotechnological and pharmaceutical products, as well as services in markets with high purchasing power, such as the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan.

"It also gives us the possibility to negotiate cooperative or licensed productions in nations whose manufacturing cost is low, such as the republics of Armenia, Belarus or Kyrgyzstan, to later market them within the EAEU or other markets. In addition, it offers us trade and investment opportunities, particularly in the Mariel Special Development Zone.

"It favors the creation of industrial parks in our country, the foundation of joint ventures and the promotion of the integral digitalization of the productive sectors, the expansion of access to foreign markets, as well as the possibility of insertion in Eurasian initiatives, focused on the energy, industrial, transport, tourism, financial spheres and the elimination of trade barriers."

Now the Cuban delegation will participate in the International Exhibition Eurasia-Our Home, which will meet in parallel to the Council in Sochi...

–This Fair can be an important moment in which new steps are consolidated or taken so that other proposals and projects are presented to the Union. Cuba will participate in different panels and stands based on the themes of tourism, health, food security and industry.

In the world we live in and more so after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is evident that solidarity, multilateralism and cooperation are the most effective way to face common challenges. How does the Union contribute to this purpose?

I think that the Union is doing very interesting work in terms of internal collaboration: how to organise itself better, how to prepare itself to face, in a solid and consistent way, the challenges it faces today. The results of 2022 were extraordinary because, despite the existence of two sanctioned countries within the bloc, they achieved economic growth.

Has Cuba been inserted into any of the Eurasian initiatives?

–Cuba participates as an observer State in two very important mechanisms that operate in the Union: the Pharmacopoeia Committee and the Working Group on the Regulations of Medical Equipment. Our relations with the Member States are good, especially at political level. It is in the economic and commercial sphere that we are trying to further boost these relations.