Brussels, 10/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs deplored, on Wednesday 10 September, the decision taken that day by OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) to reduce their offer in order to curb the fall in crude oil prices. After reaching the record price of US$147.5 on 11 July this year, the price of crude fell for the first time since 2 April below the threshold of US$100 per barrel. Meeting in Vienna, countries belonging to the oil cartel decided to return to the September 2007 quotas, equivalent to 28.8 million barrels per day excluding Indonesia, which became an importer before deciding to leave the cartel, i.e. a withdrawal of 520,000 barrels from the market. Member nations have also pledged to strictly comply with the quotas. “We regret this decision. It is not a good response when oil is still very expensive”, the spokesman for Mr Piebalgs, Ferran Tarradellas, explained to EUROPE. OPEC will hold its next meeting on 17 December in Oran. (E.H./transl.jl)