Decision on tariffs on natural gas transportation in EAEU postponed by 2 weeks

Moscow, April 13 – Neftegaz.RU. Prime ministers of the Eurasian Economic Union member states approved in general a draft strategy on advancing Eurasian integration in the period till 2025 on 10 April, BelTA learned from Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich after a videoconference meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council.

However, a number of issues have yet to be addressed. The heads of government intend to return to them in 2 weeks. Tariffs on natural gas transportation represent one of the issues. The sides have yet to come to terms on prices for natural gas and tariffs on gas transportation, Mikhail Myasnikovich said. “It is a matter of urgent interest for both Armenia and Belarus. Kazakhstan and the Russia have expressed certain differences of opinion about the matter. The energy ministers are expected to find a way to address them within 2 weeks.”

Among the unresolved matters concerning the draft strategy Mikhail Myasnikovich also mentioned the liberalization of transportation by road. The matter is of urgent interest for Belarus and other EAEU states. Apart from that, members of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council failed to come to terms on equalizing the economic development level of the EAEU states. A high-level group will be established soon in order to find solutions to all the unresolved issues.

Mikhail Myasnikovich also said that the next negotiations of the heads of government of the EAEU member states are scheduled to take place in 2 weeks. “It will be necessary to promptly find solutions to these complicated issues that didn't spring up from the underbrush yesterday but are always on the agenda,” the chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission concluded.