EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The shape of an EU-dominated monitoring team that is to end the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute became clearer on Thursday (8 January), while EU ministers agreed the problem has taken on a Europe-wide political dimension. "We have an agreement with the EU that when the international observers are in place in Ukraine and have access to the transit stations, we will immediately restore gas supplies to Europe," Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said in Brussels, as the Russian and Ukrainian diplomatic machines hit the EU capital. The monitoring committee is to comprise European Commission officials, delegates from affected EU companies and staff from the Russian and Ukrainian energy ministries, with 10 EU firms having already confirmed they will take part, Mr Miller explained. The Gazprom chief said he had given "a relevant document, a protocol" on the mandate of the monitoring mission to EU energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs. Ukraine officials said they had signed a formal invitation for European Commission staff to enter the country.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The shape of an EU-dominated monitoring team that is to end the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute became clearer on Thursday (8 January), while EU ministers agreed the problem has taken on a Europe-wide political dimension.
"We have an agreement with the EU that when the international observers are in place in Ukraine and have access to the transit stations, we will immediately restore gas supplies to Europe," Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said in Brussels, as the Russian and Ukrainian diplomatic machines hit the EU capital.
The monitoring committee is to comprise European Commission officials, delegates from affected EU companies and staff from the Russian and Ukrainian energy ministries, with 10 EU firms having already confirmed they will take part, Mr Miller explained.
The Gazprom chief said he had given "a relevant document, a protocol" on the mandate of the monitoring mission to EU energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs. Ukraine officials said they had signed a formal invitation for European Commission staff to enter the country.
Moscow has agreed to the deployment of international monitors to oversee the transit of Russian gas to EU countries via Ukraine, clearing the way for the resumption of European gas supplies, the Czech EU presidency announced last night. Earlier, a senior Czech official said Russia's gas exporting monopoly, Gazprom, had baulked at a deal, insisting that Russian monitors be allowed inside Ukraine, which it claims is stealing gas piped to EU markets across its territory. The breakthrough came after talks between the Czech Prime Minister, Mirek Topolanek, and German and Russian leaders. "This deployment should lead to the Russian supplies of gas to EU member states being restored," the EU said. There was no mention of any timeframe for deploying monitoring teams, nor did it say when supplies might be restored.
Moscow has agreed to the deployment of international monitors to oversee the transit of Russian gas to EU countries via Ukraine, clearing the way for the resumption of European gas supplies, the Czech EU presidency announced last night.
Earlier, a senior Czech official said Russia's gas exporting monopoly, Gazprom, had baulked at a deal, insisting that Russian monitors be allowed inside Ukraine, which it claims is stealing gas piped to EU markets across its territory. The breakthrough came after talks between the Czech Prime Minister, Mirek Topolanek, and German and Russian leaders.
"This deployment should lead to the Russian supplies of gas to EU member states being restored," the EU said. There was no mention of any timeframe for deploying monitoring teams, nor did it say when supplies might be restored.
