Brussels, 02/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - Chaired by the European Commission and composed of member state experts and representatives of the European gas sector, the Gas Coordination Group met during an extraordinary session on Thursday 2 July in order to analyse the progress of EU member states and the energy community (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, FYROM, Serbia and Kosovo) in order to step up preparedness for any breaks that may occur in supplies in coming weeks or months. Uncertainty is linked to the fact that Ukraine, through which Russian gas intended for the EU transits, encounters problems in paying for the volumes of gas required for its own domestic consumption. On Thursday, the Commission once more stressed the need to fill gas storage capacities and to develop regional cooperation in order to prepare for possible interruptions of supply. In the light of this uncertainty concerning gas storage in Ukraine, the Commission above all recommended that member states prepare for the coming winter period and fill their storage capacities from all possible sources. The Gas Coordination Group identified the risks that could affect supplies for various EU member states and the energy community, and discussed how appropriate it was to implement coordinated emergency measures. Finally, the Group highlighted the potential of regional cooperation for attenuating risks identified. (E.H./transl.jl)