Brussels, 01/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - In June, the Commissioner for Energy, Günther Oettinger, will travel to Ukraine (probably during the third week of the month) to finalise preparation for the modernisation of the Ukrainian gas system. Reconstruction of the Urengoi-Pomary-Uzhgorod gas pipeline will be the first stage of the process for modernising the Ukrainian gas system. This process will be assisted by European and international financial bodies. The European Commission and the Ukrainian government concluded an agreement with the EBRD, EIB, World Bank and the IFC in 2009 on a $2 billion envelope to support modernisation of the Ukrainian gas pipeline network. This financial support is conditional on the country's reforming the gas sector regulatory framework. During the visit of Ukrainian Economic Development Minister Andriy Klyuev to Brussels at the beginning of the week, the Oettinger explained that, “modernisation of the Ukrainian gas transport system remains a priority of the EU, taking into account that modernisation of the existing system is more economical than building a new infrastructure”. (E.H./transl.fl)