EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Ukraine's integration process with the EU could be harmed by the gas crisis the European Commission has indicated, as European firms begin wondering how to get their money back. "Ukraine says it wants to be closer to the EU. If it wants to be closer, it should not create any problems when it comes to EU energy supplies," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said at a press conference in Prague on Wednesday (7 January). Ukraine has a 22,000 km-long transit network The remark came after his telephone conversations with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko earlier the same day failed to clarify why Russian gas flows to the EU via Ukraine halted completely on Wednesday morning. "If both the Russians and the Ukrainians behave as they say they are behaving, there should be no problem," the commission chief said. Russia has blamed Ukraine for the stoppage, saying Kiev shut down compressor stations channeling volumes to the EU, amid a week-old row over gas prices and debt repayments. But Ukraine says Russia simply stopped pumping gas at 7.00 am Kiev time.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Ukraine's integration process with the EU could be harmed by the gas crisis the European Commission has indicated, as European firms begin wondering how to get their money back.
"Ukraine says it wants to be closer to the EU. If it wants to be closer, it should not create any problems when it comes to EU energy supplies," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said at a press conference in Prague on Wednesday (7 January).
Ukraine has a 22,000 km-long transit network
The remark came after his telephone conversations with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko earlier the same day failed to clarify why Russian gas flows to the EU via Ukraine halted completely on Wednesday morning.
"If both the Russians and the Ukrainians behave as they say they are behaving, there should be no problem," the commission chief said.
Russia has blamed Ukraine for the stoppage, saying Kiev shut down compressor stations channeling volumes to the EU, amid a week-old row over gas prices and debt repayments. But Ukraine says Russia simply stopped pumping gas at 7.00 am Kiev time.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin raised the stakes in his gas conflict with Ukraine by slashing supplies to Europe, a measure that has left some EU states struggling to heat homes in sub-zero temperatures. Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom said it was forced to take that step because Ukraine -- locked in a dispute with Moscow over gas pricing -- was stealing gas being pumped across its territory for customers in Europe. What was Putin seeking to achieve by reacting in this way? There is so far no consensus among diplomats and analysts about what Russia's end-game is. The following are the main theories: RUSSIA HAS NO END-GAME The Kremlin started out with the modest aim of persuading Ukraine to pay closer to market prices for its gas, but has now been out-manoeuvred by Kiev. "Russia and Gazprom have walked into a trap," said Fyodr Lukyanov, editor of the journal Russia in Global Affairs.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin raised the stakes in his gas conflict with Ukraine by slashing supplies to Europe, a measure that has left some EU states struggling to heat homes in sub-zero temperatures.
Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom said it was forced to take that step because Ukraine -- locked in a dispute with Moscow over gas pricing -- was stealing gas being pumped across its territory for customers in Europe.
What was Putin seeking to achieve by reacting in this way? There is so far no consensus among diplomats and analysts about what Russia's end-game is. The following are the main theories:
RUSSIA HAS NO END-GAME
The Kremlin started out with the modest aim of persuading Ukraine to pay closer to market prices for its gas, but has now been out-manoeuvred by Kiev.
"Russia and Gazprom have walked into a trap," said Fyodr Lukyanov, editor of the journal Russia in Global Affairs.
The EU warns Russia and Ukraine that they face long-term consequences unless they immediately resolve a dispute that has cut gas supplies to Europe and left some countries struggling to heat up homes over the winter. "If the transit (of Russian gas through Ukraine) does not go as normal, we will have a real problem", and the EU will have to conclude that "we no longer consider the supply of gas from Russia through Ukraine as credible," said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. Barroso, who was speaking in Prague at the launch of the Czech presidency of the bloc, said both Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko had accepted an EU offer to deploy international observers tasked with monitoring Russian gas flows through Ukraine.
"If the transit (of Russian gas through Ukraine) does not go as normal, we will have a real problem", and the EU will have to conclude that "we no longer consider the supply of gas from Russia through Ukraine as credible," said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
Barroso, who was speaking in Prague at the launch of the Czech presidency of the bloc, said both Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko had accepted an EU offer to deploy international observers tasked with monitoring Russian gas flows through Ukraine.
Gazprom, the state-owned Russian gas group, today cut off all supplies to Europe travelling through Ukrainian pipelines, intensifying the political and economic crisis that has arisen out of a payments dispute between the two countries.Amid evidence that people in eastern Europe are being deprived of heating as the Arctic cold snap continues, Russia and Ukraine continued to blame each other for the deadlock.Gazprom accused Ukraine of shutting down the fourth and last open pipeline crossing the country while officials at Naftogaz, Ukraine's state energy firm, simply said: "Words fail us."
Gazprom, the state-owned Russian gas group, today cut off all supplies to Europe travelling through Ukrainian pipelines, intensifying the political and economic crisis that has arisen out of a payments dispute between the two countries.
Amid evidence that people in eastern Europe are being deprived of heating as the Arctic cold snap continues, Russia and Ukraine continued to blame each other for the deadlock.
Gazprom accused Ukraine of shutting down the fourth and last open pipeline crossing the country while officials at Naftogaz, Ukraine's state energy firm, simply said: "Words fail us."
Fears of a deep chill spread across Europe yesterday after a row between Russia and Ukraine over gas prices cut supplies to the rest of the continent on a day of plummeting temperatures and heavy snowfalls. The European Union said the situation was "completely unacceptable" as thousands of businesses were urged to switch fuels, and households struggled to keep warm in sub-zero temperatures. But there was no sign of an end to the standoff between Russia's energy monopoly Gazprom and Ukraine, locked in battle since New Year's Day.
Fears of a deep chill spread across Europe yesterday after a row between Russia and Ukraine over gas prices cut supplies to the rest of the continent on a day of plummeting temperatures and heavy snowfalls.
The European Union said the situation was "completely unacceptable" as thousands of businesses were urged to switch fuels, and households struggled to keep warm in sub-zero temperatures. But there was no sign of an end to the standoff between Russia's energy monopoly Gazprom and Ukraine, locked in battle since New Year's Day.
Exports of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine appear to have completely stopped amid a dispute over gas supplies between the two countries. Heating systems shut down in some parts of central Europe, as outdoor temperatures plunged to -10C or lower. Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other, and the EU says it wants its own monitors to check the flow of gas. The EU depends on Russia for about a quarter of its total gas supplies, some 80% of which is pumped through Ukraine.
Exports of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine appear to have completely stopped amid a dispute over gas supplies between the two countries.
Heating systems shut down in some parts of central Europe, as outdoor temperatures plunged to -10C or lower.
Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other, and the EU says it wants its own monitors to check the flow of gas.
The EU depends on Russia for about a quarter of its total gas supplies, some 80% of which is pumped through Ukraine.
Bulgaria faces no austerity measures in electricity consumption, and no termination of central heating, and its economy could function for up to 100 days on the country's reserves, Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov announced Wednesday. ... In the president's words, the only effect of the gas shortage that most Bulgarians would feel was slight reduction in the amount of heat they received from the central heating plants. In the medium run, Parvanov mentioned some other measures to provide for Bulgaria's energy security including the expansion of the Chiren storage facility, and more importantly, building a 70-kilometers long gas transit pipeline between the Bulgarian city of Dimitrovgrad and the Greek town of Komotini, with which Bulgaria would join the Turkey-Greece-Italy pipeline.
...
In the president's words, the only effect of the gas shortage that most Bulgarians would feel was slight reduction in the amount of heat they received from the central heating plants.
In the medium run, Parvanov mentioned some other measures to provide for Bulgaria's energy security including the expansion of the Chiren storage facility, and more importantly, building a 70-kilometers long gas transit pipeline between the Bulgarian city of Dimitrovgrad and the Greek town of Komotini, with which Bulgaria would join the Turkey-Greece-Italy pipeline.
Romania has enough of its own natural gas stocks and production to manage despite the cut-off of its Russian gas supplies, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Wednesday. Boc made the statement after discussing the natural gas crisis with President Traian Basescu. He said that they agreed that Romania has to look for alternative energy resources so as to avoid similar problems in the future. ... Boc said that with current stocks, Romania is capable of supplying enough gas for heating in the winter as long as there is no extreme weather.
Boc made the statement after discussing the natural gas crisis with President Traian Basescu. He said that they agreed that Romania has to look for alternative energy resources so as to avoid similar problems in the future.
Boc said that with current stocks, Romania is capable of supplying enough gas for heating in the winter as long as there is no extreme weather.
I almost feel like this is data that should be disseminated broadly. But how exactly does spreading actual true information help in the "fear uncertainty and doubt" phase of the game? Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
Britain now exporting supplies to Europe through pipeline as shortages spread<...> Despite freezing temperatures and rising demand in Britain, traders switched from importing to exporting gas through an interconnector pipeline to continental Europe as a growing row between Russia and Ukraine left many countries short of supplies.British wholesale prices have leapt in recent days due to the crisis, leading to warnings that UK householders could be denied long-awaited cuts in fuel prices. The price of gas hit 73p a therm - up 26% in three days.Government sources warned UK energy companies not to use the Ukraine crisis as an excuse to delay passing on the benefits of otherwise lower world energy prices. One senior Whitehall figure said: "We would expect the energy companies to be responsible and not use this dispute as an excuse to hold off on the price reductions they have talked about which customers are expecting in the spring." <...> The crisis will reignite concerns that the UK has left itself open to exploitation by foreign companies who came in and bought up major UK utilities leaving British Gas as one of the few locally owned entities. EDF of France and E.ON and RWE of Germany are among the continental groups that dominate the sector. There was particular concern that the huge foreign-owned utilities that dominate power supply in the UK are putting their continental customers ahead of UK energy users, although they denied this. These companies - some of which have part-government ownership - have used a free market to buy British assets in a way that is considered unlikely to occur on mainland Europe. They are also able to use the more liberalised gas market to fill up their storage facilities during the summer and autumn. "Even in winter, if they can get hold of UK gas via the interconnector they will use that instead of dipping into their storage facilities. By contrast, UK players can't access gas from the European market as there is no liquid market to buy from ... also there is no third party access to European gas storage facilities, again in contrast to the UK," said one frustrated British gas trader.
Britain now exporting supplies to Europe through pipeline as shortages spread
<...> Despite freezing temperatures and rising demand in Britain, traders switched from importing to exporting gas through an interconnector pipeline to continental Europe as a growing row between Russia and Ukraine left many countries short of supplies.
British wholesale prices have leapt in recent days due to the crisis, leading to warnings that UK householders could be denied long-awaited cuts in fuel prices. The price of gas hit 73p a therm - up 26% in three days.
Government sources warned UK energy companies not to use the Ukraine crisis as an excuse to delay passing on the benefits of otherwise lower world energy prices. One senior Whitehall figure said: "We would expect the energy companies to be responsible and not use this dispute as an excuse to hold off on the price reductions they have talked about which customers are expecting in the spring."
<...>
The crisis will reignite concerns that the UK has left itself open to exploitation by foreign companies who came in and bought up major UK utilities leaving British Gas as one of the few locally owned entities. EDF of France and E.ON and RWE of Germany are among the continental groups that dominate the sector.
There was particular concern that the huge foreign-owned utilities that dominate power supply in the UK are putting their continental customers ahead of UK energy users, although they denied this.
These companies - some of which have part-government ownership - have used a free market to buy British assets in a way that is considered unlikely to occur on mainland Europe. They are also able to use the more liberalised gas market to fill up their storage facilities during the summer and autumn.
"Even in winter, if they can get hold of UK gas via the interconnector they will use that instead of dipping into their storage facilities. By contrast, UK players can't access gas from the European market as there is no liquid market to buy from ... also there is no third party access to European gas storage facilities, again in contrast to the UK," said one frustrated British gas trader.
The conclusion of this whine is perhaps that the British, after happily helping to support a "dazzling economy" for years by exporting North Sea gas, now wish for an end to free markets and a return to state control?
In this case, UK gas owners get a higher price for their gas on the continent than they would selling in the UK: surely that is a good thing for them. And UK gas users presumably get cheaper gas than they would on the continent the rest of the time, thanks to liberalisation. So where's the problem? In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
So where's the problem?
MOSCOW (AP) -- The heads of the Russian and Ukrainian gas companies have held an unexpected meeting in Moscow to discuss the dispute that has caused an energy crisis in Europe.Both companies confirmed they met early Thursday but released no details. It was the first face-to-face meeting between Gazprom's Alexei Miller and Naftogaz's Oleh Dubina since talks over prices broke down New Year's Eve.The meeting was unexpected because both men are due in Brussels Thursday to meet with EU officials.
MOSCOW (AP) -- The heads of the Russian and Ukrainian gas companies have held an unexpected meeting in Moscow to discuss the dispute that has caused an energy crisis in Europe.
Both companies confirmed they met early Thursday but released no details. It was the first face-to-face meeting between Gazprom's Alexei Miller and Naftogaz's Oleh Dubina since talks over prices broke down New Year's Eve.
The meeting was unexpected because both men are due in Brussels Thursday to meet with EU officials.
Sargon tells us this meeting was in the middle of the night.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Romania's parliament will have to change its attitude towards corruption if the country is to succeed in cleaning up its judicial system, Romanian justice minister Catalin Predoiu has said. Speaking to EUobserver, Mr Predoiu, in the post for just under a year, said that judicial reform and fighting high level corruption is "mainly in the hand of the magistrates and of the parliament." The newly elected Romanian parliament needs to lift the immunity of some of its members in corruption cases. Although it has been a member of the EU for two years, Romania remains under extra supervision by Brussels in the justice and home affairs area and has often been criticised by the European Commission for failing to sufficiently tackle corruption issues. "We are expected to implement a number of important reforms in a period of financial difficulties. The time pressure is another challenge," said Mr Predoiu, alluding to the fact that EU commission was entering the last months of its term.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Romania's parliament will have to change its attitude towards corruption if the country is to succeed in cleaning up its judicial system, Romanian justice minister Catalin Predoiu has said.
Speaking to EUobserver, Mr Predoiu, in the post for just under a year, said that judicial reform and fighting high level corruption is "mainly in the hand of the magistrates and of the parliament."
The newly elected Romanian parliament needs to lift the immunity of some of its members in corruption cases. Although it has been a member of the EU for two years, Romania remains under extra supervision by Brussels in the justice and home affairs area and has often been criticised by the European Commission for failing to sufficiently tackle corruption issues.
"We are expected to implement a number of important reforms in a period of financial difficulties. The time pressure is another challenge," said Mr Predoiu, alluding to the fact that EU commission was entering the last months of its term.
More than 30 people have been detained in Turkey in a widening inquiry into an alleged coup plot. Those arrested reportedly included three retired generals and a former police chief. Some 86 people are already accused of an ultra-nationalist plot to stoke unrest that would provoke the army to launch a coup. Critics say the ruling AK Party is simply arresting some of its most prominent secular opponents.
More than 30 people have been detained in Turkey in a widening inquiry into an alleged coup plot.
Those arrested reportedly included three retired generals and a former police chief.
Some 86 people are already accused of an ultra-nationalist plot to stoke unrest that would provoke the army to launch a coup.
Critics say the ruling AK Party is simply arresting some of its most prominent secular opponents.
President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced major changes to the French judiciary, bringing it closer to the system used in the English-speaking world. President Sarkozy said he wanted to abolish investigating magistrates, who currently act as independent judges - a system brought in by Napoleon. The changes would allow state prosecutors and the police to take the lead in investigations instead. Critics say the move would leave the system open to political interference. At present the investigating magistrate plays a powerful and independent role in certain cases, overseeing investigations by police and prosecutors, examining the evidence, and deciding if a case should go to trial.
President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced major changes to the French judiciary, bringing it closer to the system used in the English-speaking world.
President Sarkozy said he wanted to abolish investigating magistrates, who currently act as independent judges - a system brought in by Napoleon.
The changes would allow state prosecutors and the police to take the lead in investigations instead.
Critics say the move would leave the system open to political interference.
At present the investigating magistrate plays a powerful and independent role in certain cases, overseeing investigations by police and prosecutors, examining the evidence, and deciding if a case should go to trial.
As pointed out in Le Monde yesterday the problem is the independance of the state prosecutors and the police from political influence. Since it had been previously recommended by the Criminal Justice Commission in 1990 to revamp structure and procedure to effectively counter government meddling in criminal cases before abolishing the investigative magistracy, one has legitimate grounds to believe Sarkhozy is attacking the independance of the magistracy.
Never mind Italy where a two-tiered ancien régime judiciary system will soon gaurantee near total impunity to the elite and their allies. A far cry from "English-speaking" systems for whatever they're worth.
Or is that because what J has established is getting traction! "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
TBG - "...Wasn't there one of those election things somewhere or other back then?"
Answer: On the intertubes. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Jan. 7 (Bloomberg) -- In East Berlin's communist-era apartments, warm air used to seep through drafty walls. Heaters had to run overtime, taxing power plants and increasing greenhouse-gas emissions blamed for global warming. No more. A 2 billion-euro ($2.7 billion) urban-renovation program paid for foam insulation, cutting energy use almost in half, said Karin Lompscher, Berlin's environment chief. The urban fund, also notable for turning human waste into biofuel, has helped the German capital trim emissions of climate-changing carbon dioxide 20 percent since 1990, according to city data.
No more. A 2 billion-euro ($2.7 billion) urban-renovation program paid for foam insulation, cutting energy use almost in half, said Karin Lompscher, Berlin's environment chief. The urban fund, also notable for turning human waste into biofuel, has helped the German capital trim emissions of climate-changing carbon dioxide 20 percent since 1990, according to city data.
Berlin cut CO2 emissions 20% since 1990, and:
Berlin's building codes were changed to encourage residents to fix up homes and live closer together in the inner city. New trams and bicycle paths were added. Those measures led to a 2.6 percent reduction from 1998 to 2004 in trips by automobiles, one of the largest sources of CO2 emissions.
Perhaps us geezers (Der Greis ist Heiss!) shouldn't be so cynical. "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
It helps, but duoble glazing would be useful too.
It IS a no-brainer. Domestic heating is a major component of energy demand. Lower this specific demand, say, 20% (which is easy to do by remodelling more energy efficient homes), and it releases great benefits: lower energy bills for consumers = more to spend elsewhere, C02 reduction, less demand of energy resources = (perhaps, lower prices), and labor intensive employment for the remodelling.
That 20% reduction for homes would mean quite a chunk of savings. My guess is that many people would be very happily surprised and thus perhaps become more aware and supportive of other needed energy reforms. You can't be me, I'm taken
A group of climate change protesters who brought Stansted airport to a standstill after occupying a taxiway in December were sentenced yesterday, as it emerged that they and others who joined them face the threat of being sued for more than £2m in damages.Most of the 22 campaigners, who are members of the group Plane Stupid, were ordered to do between 50 and 90 hours community service after admitting aggravated trespass. The incident closed the airport in Essex for five hours.Each of the protesters must pay compensation of £60 to cover £3,000 worth of damage to the perimeter fence, which they cut through in the early hours of 8 December, and orders made for court costs totalled £570.The district judge, John Perkins, said he accepted that the defendants wanted to put forward honestly-held beliefs that concerned them greatly, but their protest, which had involved chaining themselves to metal fencing near the runway, had caused substantial disruption to the airlines, airport and travelling public. This meant it deserved harsher punishment than a conditional discharge.
A group of climate change protesters who brought Stansted airport to a standstill after occupying a taxiway in December were sentenced yesterday, as it emerged that they and others who joined them face the threat of being sued for more than £2m in damages.
Most of the 22 campaigners, who are members of the group Plane Stupid, were ordered to do between 50 and 90 hours community service after admitting aggravated trespass. The incident closed the airport in Essex for five hours.
Each of the protesters must pay compensation of £60 to cover £3,000 worth of damage to the perimeter fence, which they cut through in the early hours of 8 December, and orders made for court costs totalled £570.
The district judge, John Perkins, said he accepted that the defendants wanted to put forward honestly-held beliefs that concerned them greatly, but their protest, which had involved chaining themselves to metal fencing near the runway, had caused substantial disruption to the airlines, airport and travelling public. This meant it deserved harsher punishment than a conditional discharge.
Capitalism must be reformed, but kept.
I agree.
A disintermediated Capitalism without rentier/ intermediary profits is IMHO rapidly evolving.
But I doubt that's the sort of reform Sarko has in mind.... "Any economic unit can emit money. The serious problem is to get it accepted" Hyman Minsky
The European Union's €200bn fiscal stimulus plan to conquer recession may harm the ability of some governments in the 27-nation bloc to refinance their debts, the Czech Republic's finance minister warned on Thursday.Miroslav Kalousek, whose country took over the EU's rotating presidency on January 1, said EU governments were divided between advocates of extra deficit spending to overcome the recession and others that insisted on fiscal discipline.Some of the hardest-hit countries, such as Ireland, Spain and the UK, are willing to let their deficits rise substantially, while others such as Belgium, Germany and Poland are emphasising the need to keep public finances under firm control.Mr Kalousek, whose government is aligned with Germany in this debate, said: "There is no way of concealing the risks. There are risks attached to the expansion policy by means of which some countries want to tackle the crisis."
Miroslav Kalousek, whose country took over the EU's rotating presidency on January 1, said EU governments were divided between advocates of extra deficit spending to overcome the recession and others that insisted on fiscal discipline.
Some of the hardest-hit countries, such as Ireland, Spain and the UK, are willing to let their deficits rise substantially, while others such as Belgium, Germany and Poland are emphasising the need to keep public finances under firm control.
Mr Kalousek, whose government is aligned with Germany in this debate, said: "There is no way of concealing the risks. There are risks attached to the expansion policy by means of which some countries want to tackle the crisis."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday warned the US and the banking industry not to try to thwart European efforts to tighten regulation of global finance later this year.The French and German leaders issued a blunt warning to the incoming administration of Barack Obama that Europe would set the agenda for the G20 summit of leading and emerging economies in London in April."In the 21st century there is no longer only one country that says what we should do and think," Mr Sarkozy told a conference in Paris on capitalism and ethics. "We do not accept the status quo, we won't accept immobility, we will not accept any return to a single way of thought," he added.Ms Merkel told the conference that she would "react very strongly" if the financial community tried to block government efforts to tighten regulation.The German chancellor made clear her desire that the new world financial order born out of the economic crisis should look like Germany's cherished "social market"Ms Merkel also proposed the creation of "economic council" at the United Nations, akin to the security council. "We need new rules for the markets, but that will not be enough," she explained.She called for the UN to draw up a "charter for reasonable long-term development" which could act as a yardstick for government policies.
The French and German leaders issued a blunt warning to the incoming administration of Barack Obama that Europe would set the agenda for the G20 summit of leading and emerging economies in London in April.
"In the 21st century there is no longer only one country that says what we should do and think," Mr Sarkozy told a conference in Paris on capitalism and ethics. "We do not accept the status quo, we won't accept immobility, we will not accept any return to a single way of thought," he added.
Ms Merkel told the conference that she would "react very strongly" if the financial community tried to block government efforts to tighten regulation.
The German chancellor made clear her desire that the new world financial order born out of the economic crisis should look like Germany's cherished "social market"
Ms Merkel also proposed the creation of "economic council" at the United Nations, akin to the security council. "We need new rules for the markets, but that will not be enough," she explained.
She called for the UN to draw up a "charter for reasonable long-term development" which could act as a yardstick for government policies.
I wonder how quickly depression would set in if he ever became president of the world without anything else to aim to... Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères
