Energy experts and editorialists in Moscow derided yesterday's (2 July) EU recommendation to fill up gas storage quickly while prices were low in order to prepare for a potential supply disruption this winter after tensions between Russia and Ukraine resurfaced over a payment row. After a meeting of the EU's Gas Coordination Group on 2 July, the Commission recommendedexternal member states to better prepare for the coming winter period and to fill their gas storage capacity from all possible available sources. The Russian daily Vremya Novostey mocked this decision, calling it "another testimony of the helplessness of the European bureaucrats". Editorialist Alexei Grivach argues that filling up gas storage capacity in Western Europe while Eastern European and Balkan countries are still suffering supply deficits and lack alternative supply routes, would in no way alleviate the situation of the most vulnerable countries.
After a meeting of the EU's Gas Coordination Group on 2 July, the Commission recommendedexternal member states to better prepare for the coming winter period and to fill their gas storage capacity from all possible available sources.
The Russian daily Vremya Novostey mocked this decision, calling it "another testimony of the helplessness of the European bureaucrats".
Editorialist Alexei Grivach argues that filling up gas storage capacity in Western Europe while Eastern European and Balkan countries are still suffering supply deficits and lack alternative supply routes, would in no way alleviate the situation of the most vulnerable countries.
European governments are due to sign an agreement on the Nabucco gas pipeline on 13 July, the European Commission has announced.The Nabucco pipeline will bring Central Asian gas to western Europe via Turkey and the Balkans, bypassing Russia. Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria - the pipeline's five transit countries - will sign the accord. The pipeline - which will compete with new rival Russian pipelines - should be operational by 2014.
European governments are due to sign an agreement on the Nabucco gas pipeline on 13 July, the European Commission has announced.
The Nabucco pipeline will bring Central Asian gas to western Europe via Turkey and the Balkans, bypassing Russia.
Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria - the pipeline's five transit countries - will sign the accord.
The pipeline - which will compete with new rival Russian pipelines - should be operational by 2014.
