Donetsk, Sep 6 - DAN. The Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics are completing the work to harmonize their legislations with the view of launching common economic and customs space.

“Common economic and customs space lifts restrictions on the movement of citizens, goods and  funds between the Republics and is a token of their accelerated development,” the DPR and LPR leaders, Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik, said in a joint statement on Monday.

The implementation of the programs of socio-economic development of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republic for 2022-2024, approved on Monday, is the first step towards this goal.

The programs provide for increasing the sums of pensions and allowances to the level that assuredly exceeds the level of Ukraine. They also aim to develop the health care system, upgrade medical equipment, rebuild the housing stock and social infrastructure facilities ruined in strikes by Ukrainian armed formations, increase the operating efficiency of utility systems, and develop transport networks and road facilities.

“To implement the programs <...> inter-state agreements will be signed to establish common economic space for sustainable development of the economy of the Republics and better quality of life of our citizens,” the joint statement said.

“We’ve always kept together, overcoming all difficulties together and our experience shows that by joining efforts we can effectively reach our goals. Together, we stand strong,” the two leaders said.

Earlier in the day, the DPR and the LPR released a declaration on the results of the top-level meeting and the establishment of common economic space. It was followed by a joint statement of the DPR and LPR leaders. The full text of the two documents is available in the Official Information section.*jk