Verklaring van Eurocommissaris Piebalgs en minister Vizjak over het oplossen van het Russisch-Oekraïens gasconflict (en)

Commissioner Piebalgs i together with Minister Vizjak of the Slovenian Presidency has called for a determined effort to resolve the current disagreement between Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrainy, and have insisted that supplies to the EU remain uninterrupted. Commissioner Piebalgs has convened a meeting of the EU's Gas Coordination Group.

The Commission has received information that Gazprom made a first supply cut to the Ukraine on 3 March and that it has announced its intention to further reduce its supplies of gas to the Ukraine this evening, but has stated that supplies to the EU will be unaffected. Together with Minister Vizjak, Commissioner Piebalgs has called on the parties to make all efforts to find a rapid solution to the outstanding issues of disagreement between them.

To date, no Member State has reported any reduction in supplies.

Commissioner Piebalgs stated: "The European Union considers that in the past Gazprom has demonstrated its commitment to be a reliable supplier of gas to the European Union, as has the Ukraine played a similar role as a transit partner of the EU. The EU places enormous importance on this, and looks to the parties to make every effort to find a rapid and durable solution to their disagreement. In addition, we look to both parties to ensure that gas supplies to the EU remain unaffected."

In addition, Commissioner Piebalgs has convened a meeting of the EU Gas Coordination Group that will ensure a fully coordinated EU response to the situation.