By KUNA,
Brussels : The European Unions Gas Coordination Group is to meet in Brussels on Friday to assess the situation of gas supply to EU countries following disruptions due to a payment row between Russia and Ukraine, European Commission spokesman for energy Ferran Tarradellas told a news conference here today.
“We are following the situation very carefully but it has changed dramatically the last night. The Gas Coordination Group is to meet on Friday and there we will have a clear assessment what the situation is,” he said.
The Group is represented by one official from each of the 27 EU member states and representatives of the gas industry. Representatives of Russian gas giant Gazprom and Ukriane Naftogaz have also been invited to Fridays meeting.
“Energy relations between the EU and its neighbours should be based on reliability and predictability,” stressed the spokesman.
Tarradellas said Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Slovakia, Italy, Austria and Poland are facing cuts in gas supply from Russia.
An EU delegation held talks with members of Ukrainian government and representatives of gas industry in Kiev on Monday. The delegation is in Berlin today to meet representatives of Gazprom later this afternoon.
Russia said Ukraine has shut down three of the four pipelines for EU-bound Russian gas.
A quarter of EU gas needs come from Russia and 80% of the gas supply comes to EU countries via pipelines through Ukraine.
Last week, Russia stopped supplying gas to Ukraine due to a payment dispute.