Brussels, 19/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - The president of the European Commission spoke of the risk of a further gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine, a crisis that could break out in coming weeks, and the need to “protect European citizens”, he said speaking at a press conference after the Council on Friday 19 June.
In its conclusions, the European Council states it is convinced that all parties will abide by their commitments in order to avoid a further interruption in gas supplies to the EU and its member states. The Council and Commission will continue to closely monitor the situation. The European Council will take stock of progress on energy infrastructure and interconnections as well as on crisis mechanisms, on the basis of guidelines adopted in March.
“Within two months, these supplies could be broken off. We must find an agreement and the Russian Federation is willing to put a contribution on the table, which is what it is asking Europe. This concerns a sum of €3 or 4 billion, which is not negligible”, the president of the Italian Council, Silvio Berlusconi said. When asked about the €4 billion required by Ukraine, the president of the Commission said: “We are willing to help our Ukrainian friends that have a serious structural problem” but “the Community budget does not have such a sum available”. “We shall see with others if we can make a certain contribution”, added José Manuel Barroso, evoking discussions with the IMF, Russia and other partners. “The European Commission intends to host a meeting next week with representatives of the international financial institutions and of European and member state gas companies, to see if, together, we can set up a series of short term transitional measures”, he said. (O.J./M.B./transl.jl)