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| EU plays down impact of gas row | EU plays down impact of gas row |
| (4 days later) | |
| There has been "no substantial disruption" to European gas supplies due to a dispute between Russia and Ukraine, the European Union says. | There has been "no substantial disruption" to European gas supplies due to a dispute between Russia and Ukraine, the European Union says. |
| Several EU countries had 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 had 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. |
| And officials in Bulgaria, Greece and EU candidate Croatia, told Reuters supplies were down on Monday morning. | And officials in Bulgaria, Greece and EU candidate Croatia, told Reuters supplies were down on Monday morning. |
| EU officials are to meet in Brussels to assess the impact of the stand-off. | EU officials are to meet in Brussels to assess the impact of the stand-off. |
| But ahead of the discussions, EU Commission spokesman Ferran Tarradellas said there was no immediate danger to EU consumers or industry. | But ahead of the discussions, EU Commission spokesman Ferran Tarradellas said there was no immediate danger to EU consumers or industry. |
| The cut-off had produced "some irregularities" but "no substantial disruption of supply to any member state", he said. | The cut-off had produced "some irregularities" but "no substantial disruption of supply to any member state", he said. |
| The EU has despatched a team of experts to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, to put pressure on the two sides to reach an agreement, the BBC's Oana Lungescu reports from Brussels. | The EU has despatched a team of experts to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, to put pressure on the two sides to reach an agreement, the BBC's Oana Lungescu reports from Brussels. |
| The mission is also planning to meet representatives of Gazprom in an undisclosed European capital. Moscow can't pretend this is purely a commercial dispute Masha Lipmann, Russian-based commentator Russian gas theories abound | The mission is also planning to meet representatives of Gazprom in an undisclosed European capital. Moscow can't pretend this is purely a commercial dispute Masha Lipmann, Russian-based commentator Russian gas theories abound |
| Pipes across Ukraine carry about one-fifth of the EU's gas needs. | Pipes across Ukraine carry about one-fifth of the EU's gas needs. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The Ukrainians say the pipeline network is not working properly after Moscow cut supplies. | 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%.Europe's gas pipeline network Enlarge Map | In some cases supplies had dropped by 30%.Europe's gas pipeline network Enlarge Map |
| The Czech Republic said its levels were back to normal by Monday. | The Czech Republic said its levels were back to normal by Monday. |
| Mr Tarradellas said the situation had also returned to normal in Hungary, Poland and Romania. | Mr Tarradellas said the situation had also returned to normal in Hungary, Poland and Romania. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| The EU is reluctant to act as a mediator because diplomats say the facts are extremely unclear and the details of various contracts between Ukraine and Russia remain secret, our correspondent says. | The EU is reluctant to act as a mediator because diplomats say the facts are extremely unclear and the details of various contracts between Ukraine and Russia remain secret, our correspondent says. |