Lukashenko calls for accelerating formation of EAEU gas, oil markets

MINSK. May 25 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has called for scrapping all barriers in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and said that the formation of common gas, oil and petroleum product markets has been too slow.

"We have been progressing with great difficulty and very slowly in a number of key areas of the internal agenda. First of all, this applies to the formation of common gas, oil and petroleum product markets, implementing the digital agenda, and liberalizing the transport market," Lukashenko said at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Moscow on Thursday.

VGTRK aired the meeting live.

"And these are areas fundamental to our economies. Their relevance has grown amid sanctions," Lukashenko said.

"The construction of a full-fledged economic union is a priority for all of us. Everyone notes progress in this area, but my position is the same: there should be absolutely no barriers or restrictions. This is a basic principle of our union, and we have to achieve the goal in the near future," he said.

A lot has been done to create a common market for public procurement, Lukashenko said.

"The public procurement market is functioning, although with some difficulty. However, its subsequent, full-fledged development requires the signing and fastest possible implementation of an agreement on the mutual recognition of bank guarantees in public procurement, and rules on the mutual recognition of electronic signatures," Lukashenko said.

"I believe that lifting barriers in access to procurement of public corporations will have a favorable effect on the Union's economy," he said.