The Eurasian Economic Union is the merger of five Eurasian countries into a single market with uniform customs regulations, thereby facilitating economic exchange. It was founded in 2014 by Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, and in 2015 Armenia and Kyrgyzstan joined. Other countries have already announced their interest in joining. The Union is known under various names and abbreviations: "Eurasian Economic Union" (EAEU), "Eurasian Customs Union" (EACU), "Eurasian Union" (EaU).