Putin responds to Lukashenko and Pashinyan: Unified tariff for gas  transit in the EAEU can be introduced only with a single budget and  taxation

ArmInfo. A single gas transit tariff in the Eurasian Economic Union can be introduced only with a single budget and taxation. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on May 19 during a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

"As for the common tariff for gas transportation and transit services  proposed by our Armenian and Belarusian friends, we believe that a  single tariff can only be implemented in a single market with a  single budget and a single tax system. Such a deep level of  integration in the EAEU has not been reached yet. We all know this  well, but for now gas prices should be formed on the basis of market  conditions, taking into account the costs and investments of  suppliers, and also ensure a reasonable rate of return on capital  invested in output. This is a common world practice, " Vladimir Putin  said.

EAEU countries have prepared a draft Strategic Directions for the  Development of Eurasian Economic Integration until 2025. According to  the President of Russia, only a divergence of opinions on one issue -  gas transportation tariffs - prevents the signing of the document.  "There is a formula that is supported by three countries - Russia,  Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Its essence is that approaches to gas  pricing could be determined later, in negotiations on the formation  of the EAEU market. Our Armenian and Belarusian colleagues have not  yet accepted this formula, they have their own point of view. If they  could agree with it, then there would be no other obstacles at all to  approving the strategy, "said the head of the Russian state.  "If the  position of our Armenian and Belarusian friends remains unchanged,  then it would probably be logical to exclude the item on gas from the  draft strategy in order to approve it. The discussion of approaches  to gas pricing can be continued through experts from member states  and the Eurasian Economic Commission ", - suggested Vladimir Putin,  Belta reports.