The European Union says gas supplies to Europe could restart soon, even though the deal it has brokered between Moscow and Kyiv has been stalled by complaints from both sides. The latest row erupted just as the first members of an EU monitoring mission arrived in Kyiv, with more expected within 24 hours. Russia wants the monitors in place to track the flow of gas through Ukrainian pipelines and ensure supplies are not stolen -- a charge Kyiv denies. Russian and Ukrainian officials on Friday said they supported the EU observer plan, but both noted Kyiv and Moscow still have not agreed on gas pricing and terms between the two countries -- the issue leading to the cut-off. Briefing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday, Gazprom chief Alexei Miller said there had been "no progress" on the price Kyiv should pay for gas and charge for transit tariffs in 2009.
The latest row erupted just as the first members of an EU monitoring mission arrived in Kyiv, with more expected within 24 hours. Russia wants the monitors in place to track the flow of gas through Ukrainian pipelines and ensure supplies are not stolen -- a charge Kyiv denies.
Russian and Ukrainian officials on Friday said they supported the EU observer plan, but both noted Kyiv and Moscow still have not agreed on gas pricing and terms between the two countries -- the issue leading to the cut-off.
Briefing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday, Gazprom chief Alexei Miller said there had been "no progress" on the price Kyiv should pay for gas and charge for transit tariffs in 2009.
Hundreds of thousands of people were left without heating in the Balkans and some businesses had to cut production or close on Thursday (8 January), with resumption of gas flows impossible before next week. In the Balkans - the European region the hardest hit by the gas crisis - many countries rely almost entirely on Russian gas, which stopped flowing completely on Wednesday. Europe's cold spell continues to claim lives throughout the continent Many schools have closed as result of the cold and several factories had to stop production, notably in Bulgaria, Macedonia and Bosnia, as temperatures fell well below zero. In Bosnia, some 100,000 households are without central heating and there is panic buying of electric heaters in the capital Sarajevo. Some travelled to other cities to buy heaters, having exhausted reserves in Sarajevo's shops. Around 65,000 households were without central heating in Bulgaria as heating plants changed over to crude oil. Public transport in the capital Sofia also switched off heating, while some hospitals delayed operations.
Hundreds of thousands of people were left without heating in the Balkans and some businesses had to cut production or close on Thursday (8 January), with resumption of gas flows impossible before next week.
In the Balkans - the European region the hardest hit by the gas crisis - many countries rely almost entirely on Russian gas, which stopped flowing completely on Wednesday.
Europe's cold spell continues to claim lives throughout the continent
Many schools have closed as result of the cold and several factories had to stop production, notably in Bulgaria, Macedonia and Bosnia, as temperatures fell well below zero.
In Bosnia, some 100,000 households are without central heating and there is panic buying of electric heaters in the capital Sarajevo. Some travelled to other cities to buy heaters, having exhausted reserves in Sarajevo's shops.
Around 65,000 households were without central heating in Bulgaria as heating plants changed over to crude oil. Public transport in the capital Sofia also switched off heating, while some hospitals delayed operations.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - With EU experts heading to Russia and Ukraine on Friday in a bid to restart gas flows, one EU company has launched the first legal salvo - against Ukraine - to get its money back. Vienna-based law firm Wolf Theiss on Thursday evening (8 January) filed a complaint at the EU court in Luxembourg on behalf of Hungarian gas provider Emfesz against Ukraine state owned gas transit company Naftogaz. So far 18 EU states from France to Greece affected by the gas crisis (Photo: Naftogaz of Ukraine) Print Comment article The legal complaint is based on a 1994 EU regulation to help European firms enforce rights under international pacts, especially World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. Ukraine joined the WTO in May last year. Emfesz also filed a second lawsuit against Naftogaz in a Budapest court, in what could signal the start of a domino effect of legal challenges to recoup lost income by EU companies.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - With EU experts heading to Russia and Ukraine on Friday in a bid to restart gas flows, one EU company has launched the first legal salvo - against Ukraine - to get its money back.
Vienna-based law firm Wolf Theiss on Thursday evening (8 January) filed a complaint at the EU court in Luxembourg on behalf of Hungarian gas provider Emfesz against Ukraine state owned gas transit company Naftogaz.
So far 18 EU states from France to Greece affected by the gas crisis (Photo: Naftogaz of Ukraine)
The legal complaint is based on a 1994 EU regulation to help European firms enforce rights under international pacts, especially World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. Ukraine joined the WTO in May last year.
Emfesz also filed a second lawsuit against Naftogaz in a Budapest court, in what could signal the start of a domino effect of legal challenges to recoup lost income by EU companies.
MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) - The European Union sought to finalize details on Friday of a gas monitoring deal to allow the resumption of gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine, which have been cut off for days over a pricing row. But Ukraine made clear the continued political rancor underlying the dispute, which has closed some factories in eastern Europe and raised fears in the EU over future reliance on Russian gas deliveries. "Those statements that have in recent days been heard from the mouth of the Russian leadership -- they are incorrect, they humiliate Ukraine," President Viktor Yushchenko told a news briefing, apparently referring to accusations by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of high-level corruption and disarray in Kiev.
MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) - The European Union sought to finalize details on Friday of a gas monitoring deal to allow the resumption of gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine, which have been cut off for days over a pricing row.
But Ukraine made clear the continued political rancor underlying the dispute, which has closed some factories in eastern Europe and raised fears in the EU over future reliance on Russian gas deliveries.
"Those statements that have in recent days been heard from the mouth of the Russian leadership -- they are incorrect, they humiliate Ukraine," President Viktor Yushchenko told a news briefing, apparently referring to accusations by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of high-level corruption and disarray in Kiev.
There are hopes that gas flows through Ukraine may soon be restored after the first EU monitors arrived to start checking pipelines from Russia. Hundreds of thousands of homes in Europe remain without heating amid plunging temperatures, following a row over gas between Russia and Ukraine. But Russia says shipments will resume when Russian, Ukrainian and EU monitors start work, possibly later in the day. It may still take several days for gas to reach some areas, however.
There are hopes that gas flows through Ukraine may soon be restored after the first EU monitors arrived to start checking pipelines from Russia.
Hundreds of thousands of homes in Europe remain without heating amid plunging temperatures, following a row over gas between Russia and Ukraine.
But Russia says shipments will resume when Russian, Ukrainian and EU monitors start work, possibly later in the day.
It may still take several days for gas to reach some areas, however.
