Pashinyan on the Formation of a Common Gas Market

The technological independence of the EAEU member states is directly dependent on the transition to new technological forms and cannot be achieved instantly, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated at an expanded meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Almaty.

According to him, this requires a strategy, phases, and cost definitions, which depend on the level of technological development in the EAEU's industrial sectors. As a result, the transition will require the modernization of existing industries, as well as the creation of new innovative industrial sectors.

“It is clear that for these goals, a technology forecasting system must be created within the Union to timely identify the most promising trends in technology development. At the same time, an important element of cooperation may be the establishment of a database of the best available technologies. I would also like to emphasize that we greatly value the development of local and union systems for food security. We believe that in the future, the activation of cooperation aimed at the creation of a collective food security system for the EAEU member states will enhance the efficient use of existing resources, curb inflation, ensure the availability of food products, and stimulate mutual trade,” he noted.

“Another important component of EAEU integration cooperation is the formation of common energy resource markets. In this context, I would like to emphasize our interest in reaching a consensus as quickly as possible on unresolved issues regarding the draft international agreement on the formation of a common gas market, and I once again confirm our willingness to provide a constructive approach to their resolution.

Regarding the issues of the EAEU electricity market, I consider it pertinent for Armenia to adopt flexible and multifaceted approaches based on the ‘Rules for Access to Intergovernmental Electricity Transfer Services’. In particular, these rules will enable the connection of the energy systems of the EAEU member countries through a non-member country (in our case, through Georgia), thereby creating technical and legal prerequisites for concluding mutually beneficial market agreements.

To fully implement the integrated information system of the Union, we need to synchronize our actions in this direction, which will allow us to form a reliable ‘digital skeleton’ that ensures the free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor.

The development of the digital economy and the implementation of digital technologies are an objective necessity for the formation of a unified digital space. In this context, I want to highlight the relevance and high demand for the tools of the intergovernmental information exchange system and the creation and development of digital projects with an integration effect.

And despite the results achieved, we must constantly review and expand the priorities of the digital agenda. In this context, I would like to note that the ‘Digital Almaty’ conference has become one of the effective platforms for comprehensive dialogue with interested participants, addressing issues of digital transformation and discussing the prospects for digital development,” Pashinyan said.