Eurasian Economic Union
Members
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia
Overview
The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is an economic and political union of states located in Central and Northern Asia and Eastern Europe. It was established by the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union, signed on 29 May 2014, and entered into force on 1 January 2015. The EAEU aims to ensure the free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor, and to coordinate policies across key sectors such as industry, energy, transport, and agriculture.
The EAEU evolved from earlier stages of regional integration, beginning with the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia (2010) and the Eurasian Economic Space (2012). The Eurasian Economic Commission serves as the Union’s regulatory body, modeled on the European Commission.
EAEU Trademarks
At present, trademark protection in the EAEU is obtained by filing separate national applications in each member state. However, a unified EAEU trademark system between Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia is currently under development.
The planned system aims to streamline trademark registration across the region by enabling a single application to cover all EAEU member states. The process will be coordinated jointly by the national IP offices, with a unified register of EAEU trademarks to follow. Once implemented, this system is expected to provide simpler, faster, and more cost-effective registration within the EAEU.
Patents in the EAEU Region
There is no single EAEU patent. Patent protection in the EAEU region can be obtained either:
- Nationally, by filing applications in each EAEU member state’s patent office, or
- Regionally, through the Eurasian Patent System governed by the Eurasian Patent Convention (EAPC).
The Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO) grants patents that are valid across the eight member states of the EAPC: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The proceedings are conducted in Russian, and the granted patent takes effect in selected member states without further validation requirements.
Customs and IP Protection
While the creation of a unified EAEU customs register for IP rights is planned, it has not yet been implemented. Currently, rights holders must register their IP separately with each national customs authority.
In general, customs registration of trademarks remains one of the most effective tools for combating counterfeit goods. When goods suspected of infringement are detected, customs authorities can suspend clearance, notify the trademark owner, and initiate administrative proceedings. This process has proven to reduce the circulation of counterfeit products significantly and support the growth of legitimate trade.
Summary
The Eurasian Economic Union continues to develop as a key economic bloc in the region, with increasing harmonization of IP protection expected in the near future. Papula-Nevinpat provides full support in securing and enforcing intellectual property rights across the EAEU, including trademarks, patents, and customs protection.