Opening the session, Vladimir Putin proposed that the participants should discuss not only the progress achieved but also failures and drawbacks.
The President said it was a top priority to work out a uniform economic policy, primarily, to form a single economic and customs space. Other major issues included the unification of the tariff and tax systems, the regulation of property issues of Union importance, the settlement of defence issues, social security and labour safety.
Before the session, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko had a one to one meeting.
See also
Speech to the Supreme State Council of Russia and Belarus
December 26, 2001