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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| EU to meet as gas supplies fall | EU to meet as gas supplies fall |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| European Union officials are to meet in Brussels to assess the impact of falling gas supplies as a result of the dispute between Russia and Ukraine. | European Union officials are to meet in Brussels to assess the impact of falling gas supplies as a result of the dispute between Russia and Ukraine. |
| Several EU countries have reported a drop in supplies after Russia cut off gas to Ukraine on New Year's Day over unpaid bills and a new price contract. | Several EU countries have reported a drop in supplies after Russia cut off gas to Ukraine on New Year's Day over unpaid bills and a new price contract. |
| Officials in Bulgaria, Greece and EU candidate Croatia, told Reuters supplies were down on Monday morning. | Officials in Bulgaria, Greece and EU candidate Croatia, told Reuters supplies were down on Monday morning. |
| Russian gas giant Gazprom accuses Kiev of stealing gas meant for EU customers. | Russian gas giant Gazprom accuses Kiev of stealing gas meant for EU customers. |
| Pipes across Ukraine carry about a fifth of the EU's gas needs. | Pipes across Ukraine carry about a fifth of the EU's gas needs. |
| The EU has also despatched a team of experts to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, to meet both the Ukrainians and the Russians to find out what their stances are. | |
| Gazprom says it can no longer count on Ukraine as a transit route to EU countries and is seeking alternatives. | Gazprom says it can no longer count on Ukraine as a transit route to EU countries and is seeking alternatives. |
| Moscow can't pretend this is purely a commercial dispute Masha Lipmann, Russian-based commentator Russian gas theories abound The Ukrainians say the pipeline network is not working properly after Moscow cut supplies. | Moscow can't pretend this is purely a commercial dispute Masha Lipmann, Russian-based commentator Russian gas theories abound The Ukrainians say the pipeline network is not working properly after Moscow cut supplies. |
| Among the countries to have reported falling pressure in their pipelines since Russia reduced supplies are Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic and Greece. | Among the countries to have reported falling pressure in their pipelines since Russia reduced supplies are Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic and Greece. |
| In some cases supplies had dropped by 30%. | In some cases supplies had dropped by 30%. |
| The Czech Republic said its levels were back to normal by Monday. | The Czech Republic said its levels were back to normal by Monday. |
| However, none of the countries were reporting that consumers were suffering supply cuts. Many EU countries, and Ukraine itself, have built up reserves since a similar dispute between Gazprom and Ukraine at the beginning of 2006 left some countries with shortages for days. href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/europe_enl_1136301170/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/europe_enl_1136301170/html/1.stm', '1136301206', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=600,height=440,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Europe's gas pipeline network href="javascript: void window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/europe_enl_1136301170/html/1.stm', '1136301206', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=600,height=440,left=312,top=100');" >Enlarge Map | |
| The Czech Republic, which holds the rotating EU presidency, is to convene Monday's meeting of envoys in Brussels to discuss the row. | The Czech Republic, which holds the rotating EU presidency, is to convene Monday's meeting of envoys in Brussels to discuss the row. |
| The meeting will discuss the impact on gas supplies, but the bloc is divided on how to respond to both Russia and Ukraine. | The meeting will discuss the impact on gas supplies, but the bloc is divided on how to respond to both Russia and Ukraine. |
| While both sides have been lobbying European states for their support, there is a marked reluctance on the part of the EU to get involved, says the BBC's Dominic Hughes in Brussels. | While both sides have been lobbying European states for their support, there is a marked reluctance on the part of the EU to get involved, says the BBC's Dominic Hughes in Brussels. |
| Therefore its response will probably be limited to an appeal for a swift end to the dispute, our correspondent adds. | Therefore its response will probably be limited to an appeal for a swift end to the dispute, our correspondent adds. |
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| Have you noticed changes in your gas supply? | Have you noticed changes in your gas supply? |
| Send your comments using the post form below. | Send your comments using the post form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |