Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis at a meeting on Tuesday approved the proposal of the Cabinet of Ministers on the participation of Uzbekistan in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) as an observer state.

132 out of 150 deputies participated in the vote. 86 deputies voted “for”, 32 – “against” and 14 – abstained.

The issue of cooperation with the EAEU should now be considered by the Senate.

In March, the government approved a proposal for cooperation with the EAEU as an observer state and sent it to Parliament for consideration. The decision was made based on the study of 16 major sectors of the economy, as well as the streamlining of customs tariffing and foreign trade policy, labor migration, standardization and veterinary medicine, sanitary and phytosanitary control and other issues.

The fact that Uzbekistan can become an observer in the EAEU was announced in January by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in his Message to Parliament. He emphasized that the country’s entry into integration associations does not mean the loss of independence by Uzbekistan.

The head of state noted that “entry into the EAEU should meet the interests of the people,” and that parliament should consider this issue.