The Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) appears to be planning far-reaching changes to the way it operates. The changes are designed to make the bloc’s decision-making mechanism more closely resemble that of the European Union.

A report published by the Exclusive.kz website discusses details about the planned amendments to the EEU’s treaty, the most important of which is enhanced powers for the EEU’s Commission to make policies binding on all member states. The changes cover “key areas of integration—the internal market, customs and technical regulation, trade in services and investment, energy, transport, competition, and government procurement,” according to the report. 

One pending amendment would exempt the Russian defence industry from EEU procurement rules promoting competition. “Essentially, this enshrines a special legal regime for the Russian military-industrial complex and removes all military-technical cooperation operations from the Commission's supranational regulation,” the Exclusive.kz report states.

A window for public comment on the proposed amendments will remain open in Kazakhstan until October 28. Regional observers expect the changes as currently framed to be adopted without significant alteration.

Once adopted, the amendments will expand the EEU Commission’s authority to regulate trade within its common market and interpret the organisation’s rules. Another change would establish a new institution, the Registrar of the Common Electricity Market, responsible for managing transactions and monitoring contracts. 

Implementation of the changes reportedly will not entail additional costs for member states. The Exclusive.kz report provided no indication as to when the changes may go into effect. The EEU presently comprises Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

This article first appeared on Eurasianet here.