We Emphasize the Formation of a Unified Gas Market in the EAEU: Nikol Pashinyan

Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated today in the regular meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, which was held in a video conference format. The meeting also included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as an observer in the EAEU, Cuban President Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, as well as Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich and Honorary Chairman of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Nikol Pashinyan, in his speech, stated: “Esteemed leaders of states, dear participants of the meeting, I am glad to welcome you to the first meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council this year and wish us all a meaningful and fruitful work. I am pleased to welcome the Honorary Chairman of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev, to our meeting. I also sincerely welcome the leaders of the observer states of the Eurasian Union, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan and President Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez of Cuba.

Dear participants of the meeting, within the framework of today’s agenda, I would like to address certain issues that, from our perspective, are of significant importance for the development of integration processes. We place great importance on the formation of a unified gas market for the Union. We find it necessary to agree on approaches to pricing and tariff formation not only within the framework of the international agreement on the Union’s general gas market but also to establish tariffs for the transportation of gas from third countries for domestic consumption on the basis of transparency and a non-discriminatory approach.

It is crucial to continue work to identify and remove barriers and restrictions to mutual trade. This work has been carried out, without exaggeration, throughout our Union's existence. Despite the differences in positions and some objective difficulties on the path to creating a fully unified market for goods and services, we continue to seek constructive solutions, which are reflected in the report.

We consider the continuous implementation of the main benchmarks of the macroeconomic policy of the member countries for 2021-2022 as a tool for adapting to the demands and challenges of the times. The pace of recovery of our countries' economies will largely be determined by the effectiveness of the implementation of the main provisions enshrined in this document, which includes the restoration of entrepreneurial activity and the creation of favorable conditions for expanding the capabilities of the Union's internal market. I believe my colleagues also share this perspective.

The formation of unified approaches to conduct a coordinated external trade policy that reflects the interests of each member state and the entire Union is a key component of ensuring Eurasian economic integration. Today, we can confidently say that the agreements on free trade and trade-economic cooperation between the EAEU and third countries have proven to be in demand.

In this regard, we once again reaffirm our readiness to continue the implementation of joint programs and targeted and consistent work aimed at promoting the idea of Eurasian economic integration and enhancing its international authority.

We consider continuing to work towards creating a legal framework that guarantees the interests of the Union and its members in international trade as important. Armenia reaffirms its commitment to further deepening cooperation in the health sector among the member states of the Union, aimed at improving the health of the population, preventing diseases, strengthening cooperation and collective strategic partnership in their combat, as well as protecting the common interests of the member states in the international arena.

In this context, I would like to emphasize the importance of developing an action program aimed at increasing the level of provision of the member states of the Union with strategically important medications and pharmaceutical substances for medical applications, the production of which should be ensured within the Union.

I am confident that our further mutual and coordinated actions toward developing cooperation in the health and pharmaceutical production sectors will yield positive results. I believe that today, more than ever, it is necessary to develop financing mechanisms for integration projects, actively involving state resources and supra-national institutions for the development of the EAEU, including through the establishment of specialized investment funds.

Moreover, I believe everyone will agree that strengthening human capital and technological development are key factors for the stable economic growth of our economies. In this regard, the importance of accumulating human capital in the Union is undeniable, aimed at creating a more reliable innovative ecosystem, including by deepening integration processes in education and scientific-innovative activities.

Considering that the regulatory instruments of the Eurasian Economic Commission in the field of education are limited, I propose to explore the possibility of creating a platform for academic mobility in the EAEU's industry and agro-industrial complex.

In my speech, I would also like to address the topic of the Union's digital agenda, which is of priority importance for Armenia. In this regard, I would like to mention the first joint digital project of the EAEU, which will be put into industrial operation starting from July 1 of this year, the unified search system "Work Without Borders." This project will create new job opportunities for citizens of the Union, both in their regions and in the territories of the 'Five' countries. Employers will have an expanded array of recruitment platforms. Modern and efficient digital tools for the development of the Union's labor market will be introduced for the member countries.

Dear colleagues, to conclude, I would like to express my gratitude for the work done. The dynamics and duration of the recovery of economies after the shocks caused by the pandemic will largely depend on the willingness to closely cooperate in the process of developing mechanisms and tools to adapt to new conditions.

I am confident that the outcome of equal and mutually beneficial dialogue, coordinated and structured actions on the EAEU platform will not take long to materialize.”