PRESS-RELEASE *
The following issues are scheduled for discussion at the Government Presidium meeting on March 24, 2010:
1. Draft guidelines for customs and tariff policy for 2011 and the 2012-2013 planning period
The draft guidelines for customs and tariff policy for 2011 and the 2012-2013 planning period have been drafted by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
The draft guidelines take into account the Strategy for the Long-Term Social and Economic Development of the Russian Federation in the Period Through 2020, the Guidelines for the Initiatives of the Government of the Russian Federation in the Period Through 2020 and the Guidelines for the Foreign Economic Policy of the Russian Federation in the Period Through 2020.
The draft guidelines for customs tariff policy for 2010 and the planned period 2011-2012 determine the medium-term priorities for customs and tariff policy. In addition, due to the global financial and economic crisis, the significant decrease in global and domestic demand, the implementation of anti-crisis measures and the establishment of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, the priorities for customs and tariff policy require revision.
First, it is necessary to ensure effective and efficient supranational regulatory mechanisms within the Customs Union that fully conform to the objectives of the Union and each of its member countries. This will require the introduction of appropriate rules, regulations and procedures that allow the parties to effectively coordinate their positions with due account for the decisions of the supranational body.
Second, it is necessary to formulate and implement effective mechanisms for advancing the position of the Russian Federation in the Customs Union, strengthening the feasibility of the solutions proposed by the Russian Federation and predicting the social, economic, commercial and political effects of these solutions. It is also necessary to ensure that the leadership role of the Russian Federation in the Customs Union is strengthened by concrete results with regards to Russian economic, commercial and political interests. For these purposes, the formulation of Russian proposals should be made more transparent.
Third, the current economic objectives of the Russian Federation require that customs and tariff policy be more closely integrated into the process of diversifying, restructuring and introducing innovation into domestic industry.
The transition to an innovation-based economy lends customs and tariff measures a greater role in the realisation of policies regarding industry and restructuring the economy. It is therefore necessary to improve tariff protection for particular markets during the initial stages of the production of innovative commodities and, in order to maintain a competitive environment, ensure the gradual opening of these markets based on the establishment, segmentation, and increased competitiveness of domestic industry. At the same time, adjusting customs, tariff and non-tariff regulations in order to stimulate the manufacture and export of high-tech, innovative commodities requires the development of institutions promoting exports, the improvement of customs legislation and regulations, the simplification and reduction of administrative procedures and of the use of all available instruments for protecting markets that are in compliance with World Trade Organisation requirements.
2. Draft federal law amending Article 170 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation (Part Two)
The draft federal law has been submitted to the government by the Finance Ministry of the Russian Federation.
At present, the Tax Code of the Russian Federation establishes a unified procedure for all those who pay the VAT, reimbursing these taxpayers for the amount previously paid as VAT levied on commodities used for the execution of work (rendering of services) outside of the Russian Federation.
During the global financial crisis, this situation has adversely affected Russian aviation companies involved in United Nations peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.
Russian aviation companies currently provide over half of helicopter transport for such operations worldwide.
According to the present draft law, value added tax revenues from the sale of aircraft, engines and spare parts will not be reimbursed to Russian aviation companies if said aircraft were used for the execution of work (rendering of services) during United Nations peacekeeping and relief missions outside the Russian Federation.
3. Draft federal law ratifying the Agreement on Merchant Shipping Between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Greece
The draft federal law has been submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Transport Ministry of the Russian Federation.
The Russian-Greek agreement on merchant shipping was signed in Athens on December 6, 2001.
This agreement was signed due to the need to replace the obsolete December 16, 1975 agreement on merchant shipping between the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Government of the Republic of Greece, which contained several provisions that were no longer relevant.
The new agreement regulates three basic areas:
- shipping policy;
- cooperation mechanisms among government agencies responsible for the implementation of the agreement, as well as the settlement of any disputes concerning its interpretation and/or application;
- regulating vessels, crewmembers and cargoes during their time in the signatory countries.
The agreement allows crewmembers to disembark during the time their vessel is at port in the other signatory country without the need for a visa, and, upon the receipt of a visa, to travel as passengers on any means of transport to the other signatory country or pass through the other signatory country when travelling on their vessel or travelling for some other reason approved by the government agencies of the other signatory country.
The agreement establishes a contractual basis for the two signatory countries and relevant government agencies and shipping companies to cooperate more closely in shipping. It also corresponds with Russian contractual practice in this area.
The agreement must be ratified in accordance with the Federal Law on International Treaties of the Russian Federation, paragraph 1a) of Article 15.
4. Amending the Statute of the Federal Road Agency and the Statute of the Transport Ministry of the Russian Federation
The draft government resolution has been prepared and submitted by the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation.
The resolution was drafted in order to implement the Federal Law On Establishing the Russian Motorways State-Owned Company and Amending Other Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation. It establishes the legal status and mission of the Russian Motorways state-owned company and non-profit organisation, and articulates the procedures for establishing, reorganising and liquidating said company. The law also outlines plans for the motorways under Russian Motorways management and how the company can use land to implement these plans.
The draft resolution would also ratify amendments to the Statute of the Federal Road Agency and the Statute of the Transport Ministry of the Russian Federation.
The draft resolution must be adopted in order for the Transport Ministry of the Russian Federation and the Federal Road Agency to exercise the powers granted to them by federal law pertaining to the establishment of Russian Motorways. It is therefore also necessary so that Russian Motorways can provide public services; exercise other powers granted to it to use and lease federal property and land, as well as other property under its management in order to carry out its mission; maintain roads; upgrade roads (including roads transferred to the state-owned company's management); increase the capacity of roads; ensure traffic flow; improve the quality of service provided to users of roads managed by the state-owned company; and improve roadside service facilities along motorways managed by the state-owned company.
The adoption of the resolution will give the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation and the Federal Road Agency additional rights to ensure that the company carries out its responsibilities stipulated by federal law.
5. Introducing an emblem and flag for the Federal Road Agency
The draft government resolution has been prepared and submitted by the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation.
The draft resolution would
- introduce a Federal Road Agency emblem and flag;
- approve the statutes of the Federal Road Agency emblem and flag; and
- make an appropriate addition to paragraph 11 of the Statute of the Federal Road Agency.
The emblem and flag have been designed according to the rules for designing emblems and flags and are based on Russian state symbols.
The emblem and flag will serve as the official symbols of the Federal Road Agency. Their introduction will promote a spirit of cooperation in the agency and subordinate organisations.
6. Government declarations and guarantees in connection with the Russian bid to host the 2018 and 2022 football championships
Moscow,
March 23, 2010
* Press releases by the Department of Press Service and Information contain materials submitted by the executive federal bodies for discussion by the Presidium of the Government of the Russian Federation.