Brussels, 07/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 7 April, the European Commission confirmed that a new trilateral ministerial meeting will be held in Berlin on 14 April between Russia, Ukraine and the EU in order to conclude a new arrangement on the supply of Russian gas to Ukraine after the expiry of the winter package on 31 March. The winter package was concluded under EU mediation in October 2014.
“I can confirm that a meeting will be held in Berlin on the 14th. This is all in the process of being organised”, said Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, the European Commission spokesperson for energy.
On 20 March, Russia's Minister for Energy Alexander Novak and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Demchyshyn, agreed - under the mediation of European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic - on the agenda for talks for a new gas arrangement.
The parties agreed on three points: - Russia examining the possibility of granting Ukraine a discount on its gas deliveries; - Ukraine committing to form sufficient reserves in order to transit the Russian gas intended for the EU; - the Commission examining how to help Ukraine find adequate financial support to buy the gas. A joint group of experts is due to put a proposal forward to the ministers next week.
The Commission also wants to reach an agreement - in June at the latest - on Ukraine being able to form its gas reserves by next winter. Ukraine's gas reserves are expected to fall to 6.5 billion cubic metres in April, but the required level for ensuring the continued transit of Russian gas to the EU is 20 billion cubic metres. This is an imperative as nearly half the Russian gas consumed in Europe transits Ukraine.
The EU also wants to obtain a long-lasting agreement until the end of 2016 - when the international arbitration court in Stockholm will give its judgment. Both parties went to this court to settle their old dispute on the arrears of Ukrainian gas company Naftogaz to Russian gas company Gazprom.
On 2 April, Gazprom agreed to extend the winter package by three months - including a reduced price. Last Thursday, Gazprom and Naftogaz signed a technical addendum to their gas contract, setting the price of Russian gas for Ukraine at $248 per 1,000 cubic metres until June (compared with $329 in the winter package) and resuming the key provisions of the winter package. (Emmanuel Hagry)