EU in a huddle over Ukraine gas crisis

BRUSSELS - The EU is holding emergency talks to seek ways to secure energy supplies in the face of a Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute that triggered shortages earlier this week.

Russia's gas supplies to Europe returned to normal yesterday after European customers complained about delivery shortfalls to a wintry continent when Moscow stopped supplies to Ukraine on January 1 after Kiev rejected a fourfold rise in prices.

Russian and Ukrainian officials met but neither side signalled any softening in the standoff between the two republics.

Officials from the European Union's 25 member states were expected to discuss how the dispute had affected them and how they could ensure their gas needs were not disrupted in future.

The officials were likely to discuss a request for help in negotiations with Russia by Ukraine and Moldova, another former Soviet republic hit by Moscow's decision to raise prices. The EU's Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, who will chair the meeting, said the bloc would be interested in helping negotiations if Russia agreed.

"We expect to also establish some form of community solidarity mechanism in the case if there is a gas disruption. I don't mean in this particular case, but in general," he said.

Russia's Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz Ukrainy gas companies have been invited to give briefings at the meeting, which will also be attended by European industry representatives and consumer groups.

- REUTERS