Leaders of the EEU member countries will discuss the creation of a common gas market within the Union during an enlarged meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (EIC) in the city of Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, scheduled for Friday. This was reported to TASS by the Kyrgyz government.
"During the meeting of the EIC in Cholpon-Ata, the parties will discuss several issues, including the creation of a common gas market," said the representative of the cabinet of ministers. According to him, the agenda of the meeting includes several other issues related to indirect taxes on e-commerce of goods and expansion of the use of national currencies in mutual settlements, as well as regulation of the EEU alcoholic beverages market. In addition, a document on the establishment of the Eurasian Reinsurance Company is expected to be signed.
During the meeting with the heads of government of EEU member-states, the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Zhaparov, said on Thursday that it's necessary to develop effective and efficient mechanisms for financing infrastructure projects aimed at integration. The member countries need to continue working more actively and persistently to remove barriers, exemptions and restrictions that impede the integration processes, he said, adding that in this context "we cannot ignore one of the key problems within the EEU - free movement of goods." "Despite the steps taken, barriers continue to hinder the expansion of trade relations" between the EEU countries, Zhaparov concluded.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Head of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Zhaparov, Prime Ministers of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov, and, as honorary guests, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov and Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich will participate in the enlarged session of the Eurasian Economic Commission.
Agenda
Mishustin arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Thursday. On the same day in Cholpon-Ata, he attended a meeting of EEU heads of government with Zhaparov and a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in a small group. In particular, Mishustin noted that the union states "managed to make significant progress in many areas [of cooperation] in the current difficult conditions." He stressed that "in the conditions of sanctions, additional, new opportunities" are opening up for the EEU, and it is important to use them competently. According to the Russian prime minister, the EEU "proves its effectiveness and resilience in difficult situations," responding in a coordinated manner to new challenges, whether it is pressure from unfriendly states or a pandemic. Mishustin also held bilateral talks with colleagues from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on Thursday.
As previously reported by the press service of the Russian cabinet, at a meeting of the EIC this time special attention will also be paid to financing industrial cooperation and development of integrated transport projects. As a result, it is planned to sign decisions providing for further development of Eurasian economic integration.
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Photo: Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS