Donetsk, Sep 22 - DAN. The parliaments of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics have made progress in harmonizing the tax and customs legislation of the two states, DPR parliament speaker Vladimir Bidyovka said on Wednesday following the ratification of the treaty between the DPR and the LPR on establishing a common customs space and developing economic integration.

“As of today, the Republics’ parliaments continue the work on harmonizing the tax, customs and civil legislation to provide legal support for the establishment of one customs territory and integration of the economies of our states,” Bidyovka said. “The dedicated working group hold consultations on these issue almost every day. I can note progress in the above processes.”

The Donbass Republics will be able to achieve a real breakthrough not only in economic development and raising social standards, but also in strengthening inter-state ties, he added.

Earlier reports on Wednesday said that the DRP parliamentarians had ratified the treaty on establishing a common economic space with the LPR.

In early September, the DPR and the LPR agreed to establish a common economic space. The signing of a treaty on a common customs space had to become the first step on this track, according to the declaration on the results of the top level meeting. The Republics adopted programs of socio-economic development for 2022-2024 that envisioned a significant increase in wages and pensions, dozens of thousands of new jobs, business support measures, export potential increase etc.

The implementation of the programs was launched on September 15, 2021, when the LPR and DPR Heads, Leonid Pasechnik and Denis Pushilin, signed a treaty on establishing a common customs territory and developing economic integration. *jk