MOSCOW, 26 April (BelTA) – An agreement on the common market of natural gas has been drafted in the Eurasian Economic Union, the press service of the Eurasian Economic Commission told BelTA.
The agreement was drafted by the Russian Federation and forwarded to the Eurasian Economic Commission. The fact was mentioned by Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich at a session of the committee on resolving differences of opinion and disputes and on ensuring the freedom of merchandise movement in the Eurasian Economic Union in the commission's HQ on 26 April.
Mikhail Myasnikovich noted the document had already been forwarded to the Eurasian Economic Union member states. The Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission would like the intrastate reconciliation of the draft agreement to be done fast because the document will be forwarded for consideration of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. It is supposed to be ratified next year.
The Energy Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission has already worked out a detailed schedule for reconciling the document. It was noted that the draft agreement needs to be expanded with common rules of access to gas transport systems. Russia has yet to submit those rules.
Participants of the session also discussed the remaining differences of opinion regarding a draft agreement on using navigation seals for tracking freight shipments in the Eurasian Economic Union. The sides have yet to come to an agreement on what needs to be tracked, on the means of transportation to be tracked, on conditions for tracking these shipments, and on what information the navigation seals need to contain.
Since the agreement is supposed to be signed in Q2 2021, it is necessary to reconcile the differences of opinion faster, Mikhail Myasnikovich said. The agreement will allow greatly accelerating freight transportation in transit and in mutual trade.
Participants of the session approved the agreement's article that specifies what information the navigation seals need to contain. The article had been polished by the Eurasian Economic Commission taking into account proposals of Belarus' Customs and Russia's Customs. It was suggested that either the Eurasian Economic Commission or domestic laws of the member states will determine the procedure for applying and removing navigation seals, including the addition of documents and data to the navigation seals. Since effective interaction between national operators of freight tracking systems is necessary, it was decided to suggest working out the relevant agreement on cooperation between the operators.
Participants of the session also discussed phytosanitary security in the Eurasian Economic Union and protection against a number of tomato viruses. “Trade should be based on principles of mutual respect and competition. At the same time we need systemic work in this field. The council of heads of phytosanitary agencies should work regularly and should convene at least every month,” Mikhail Myasnikovich suggested.
