The Protocol expands the scope of the Convention’s effect through applying it to the taxes on property and capital. The amendments aim to create favourable conditions for stimulating mutual investment and an improved taxation regime for organisations engaged in Russian-Swedish relations.

Reference

Submitted by the Ministry of Finance. The directive signed by the Russian side approves the Draft Protocol on Introducing Amendments in the Convention Between the Governments of Russia and Sweden for the Avoidance of Double Taxation With Respect to Taxes on Income (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol and Convention, respectively).

The Convention was signed in Stockholm on 15 June 1993. The Protocol expands the Convention’s sphere of application to taxes on property and capital. It sets the rule for defining a resident for non-individual entities recognised as entities with permanent residence in both countries, through conciliation procedures conducted by the competent authorities of both countries.

It also introduces amendments to the Convention’s provisions that regulate how competent authorities of both countries conduct conciliation procedures on the issue of affording taxpayers the opportunity to go through the relevant authorities of either state to initiate such procedures.

The Protocol’s provisions reflect the recommendations of the Plan to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS Plan).

The Protocol aims to create favourable conditions for stimulating mutual investments and creating an improved taxation regime for organisations engaged in Russian-Swedish relations.

In accordance with the federal law On International Treaties of the Russian Federation, upon signing the protocol is subject to ratification as it contains rules that differ from those provided by Russian law. 

The agreement provides for the formation of a free trade area on a limited range of goods between the EAEU and Iran. The EAEU will grant Iran tariff concessions on 502 harmonised commodity codes.

 Reference

Submitted by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

By signing the directive the Russian Federation approves the draft interim agreement (hereinafter referred to as the agreement) leading to the formation of a free trade area of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and its member countries with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The draft agreement was prepared to fulfil the decision of the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council of 26 December 2016 on starting talks with Iran on concluding an interim agreement leading to the formation of a free trade area, and endorsed at the session of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission on 7 March 2017.

The agreement is interim (with a term of four years) and provides for the formation of a free trade area on a limited range of goods between the EAEU and Iran.

In accordance with the federal law On the International Treaties of the Russian Federation the agreement is subject to ratification after signing because it contains rules that differ from those envisaged by Russian legislation. 

During their conversation the officials discussed current issues of Russian-Armenian relations and developments in Armenia. Dmitry Medvedev expressed support for the friendly Armenian people and stressed the importance of keeping the situation within legal and constitutional boundaries.

They also addressed the topic of integration within the Eurasian Economic Union.

The Prime Minister’s message reads, in part: 

“Russia and Azerbaijan are linked by relations of strategic partnership based on the principles of equality, respect for each other’s interests and neighbourliness. I am confident that further strengthening our bilateral trade and economic cooperation, implementing large-scale joint projects in transport, oil and gas industry, agriculture, high technology, education and culture fully meet the long-term interests of our countries.”

The plans for the Russian Antarctic Expedition and the parameters of its activities for 2018–2022 have been approved. The new plan is similar to the 2013–2017 expedition and aims to expand Russia’s presence in the Antarctic. In 2018–2019, there will be 110 members of the Russian Antarctic Expedition without counting the ship and aircraft crews; starting from 2021, there will be 125 people on the winter staff and 120 people on the seasonal staff. The plan envisages that the number of the Antarctic stations will be the same as in 2017 until 2020, and starting with 2021, another station (Russkaya) will be added to the all-year stations.

Reference

Prepared by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation in accordance with the action plan to implement the Russian Action Strategy in the Antarctic until 2020 and successive years (approved by Government Directive No. 1926-r dated 30 October 2010) and Federal Law No. 50-FZ “On Regulating the Activities of Russian Citizens and Russian Legal Entities in the Antarctic” dated 5 June 2012.

The signed directive approved the action plan for Russian Antarctic Expedition and the parameters of its activities for 2018–2022 (hereinafter referred to as the plan and the parameters, respectively.)

The new plan is successive of the analogous plan for 2013–2017 (approved by Government Directive No. 28-r dated 21 January 2013) and aims to maintain and develop Russia’s presence in the Antarctic.

The plan envisages priority goals related to developing Russia’s activities in the Antarctic and carrying out comprehensive interdepartmental research that provides for Russia’s leading position in the international Antarctic community.

In particular, it is planned to organise and hold annual Antarctic expeditions in the best possible timeframe to ensure the effective operation of Russian organisations in the Antarctic and scientific research as well as the operation of Russian Antarctic stations and seasonal field bases, plus the cleaning up of the territories of these stations and bases.

According to the approved parameters, there will be 110 members of the Russian Antarctic Expedition in 2018-2019 without counting the ship and aircraft crews; starting from 2021, there will be 125 people on the winter staff and 120 people on the seasonal staff.

The plan envisages that until 2020 the number of Antarctic stations will be the same as in 2017, and starting from 2021, another station (Russkaya) will be added to the all-year stations.

These decisions were made as part of the subprogramme “Organisation and Provision of Works and Scientific Research in the Arctic and Antarctic” of the state programme Environmental Protection, 2012-2020 (approved by Government resolution No. 326 dated 15 April 2014).