Brussels, 15/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 14 April, the EU's foreign affairs ministers tasked the European Commission with responding to the letter to European leaders from Russia's President Vladimir Putin - a letter threatening Russia's cessation of gas supply to Ukraine if Kiev does not settle its debt.
On Monday, the Foreign Affairs Council confirmed the EU's resolve to explore ways to help Ukraine be assured of its energy supply - through greater diversification, particularly the rapid strengthening of reverse flow capacities, and through increased energy efficiency and effective interconnections with and within the EU, the Council conclusions state. This assistance should be combined with Ukraine's efforts to reform and modernise its energy industry, in line with Kiev's commitments as part of the Energy Community, the ministers recalled.
The Council also took note of Putin's letter sent to 18 EU member states on 10 April, threatening to halt the supply of gas to Ukraine if Ukraine does not settle its gas debt. This would therefore jeopardise gas supply to Europeans - as during the gas war of 2009. The EU foreign affairs ministers tasked the Commission with responding to Putin on behalf of the EU and its member states, and in consultation with the member states, in order to come to an agreement on the tripartite consultations to ensure the security of supply and transit. On Monday, the ministers had a long exchange of views on this issue by video-conference with European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger.
The EU foreign affairs ministers spoke of their “deep concern” about the unilateral increase of prices for Russian gas applied to Ukraine, stating in the Council conclusions that they were convinced that “all differences of views on the price and conditions of gas supplies should be solved through negotiations and available legal mechanisms, with a view to stabilising the economic situation in Ukraine. Energy relations must be based on reciprocity, transparency, fairness, non-discrimination, openness to competition and continued cooperation to ensure a level playing field for the safe and secure supply of energy”. (EH)