Brussels, 29/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - The draft memorandum of understanding for the provision of Russian gas to Ukraine for 2015-2016 was one of the main issues addressed at the meeting between European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic and Ukraine's Minister for Energy Volodymyr Demchyshyn, on the sidelines of the EU-Ukraine summit in Kiev on 27 April.
The EU and Ukraine hope to hold a new trilateral ministerial level meeting with Russia in May, with a view to concluding a new arrangement on the supply of Russian gas to Ukraine after the winter package (concluded under EU mediation in October 2014) expired at the end of March.
The three parties met in Brussels last week for technical level discussions to bring their positions closer, and they achieved “good results”, according to Sefcovic.
On 20 March, Russia, Ukraine and the EU agreed at ministerial level on the agenda for talks on a new gas arrangement. This covered 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; - and the Commission examining how to help Ukraine find adequate financial support to buy the gas.
The Commission wants to reach an agreement - in June at the latest - on Ukraine being able to form its gas reserves by next winter. In April, Ukraine's gas reserves have fallen to 30% below the level required to guarantee the continued transit of Russian gas to the EU.
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.
At the beginning of April, Gazprom agreed to extend the winter package by three months - including a reduced price. (Emmanuel Hagry)