OREANDA-NEWS. June 18, 2010. The Government will pass the draft law "On the gas market" at its meeting. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said this at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers.

"Its adoption will open the way for immediate negotiations on the EU participation in projects of the modernization of our GTS. Energy and Fuel Minister Yuriy Boiko will get a platform for negotiations with European partners that could already begin on June 25", informed the Head of the Government and added that at the Fourteenth session of the Ukraine-EU Cooperation Council in which he took part in Luxembourg, was clear interest expressed by the European side in modernizing the Ukrainian gas transport system. Moreover, according to him, for the EU leaders the issue of the adoption of the draft law "On the gas market" is critical for them for cooperation with Ukraine in the energy sector.

The Prime Minister also stressed that the energy cooperation, especially further reform of the energy sector in Ukraine and achieving full membership in the Energy Community for Ukraine was the separate issue at the session in Luxembourg.

Moreover, according to Mykola Azarov, the Government will talk with our Russian partners about their participation in modernizing the Ukrainian gas transport system. "Their participation in the project of modernization is very important and necessary", added the Prime Minister.