During the meeting of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) in the EP in Brussels, MEPs debate latest developments on Russian gas supplies to the Ukraine with Maroš SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of the Energy Union. Statements by Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Energy Union, Krišjānis KARIŅŠ (EPP, LV), Dan NICA (S&D, RO) and Claude TURMES (Greens/EFA, LU).

Brussels

exchange of views

meeting

KARIŅŠ, Krišjānis (EPP, LV)

energy union (T)

ŠEFČOVIČ, Maroš (SK, EC)

NICA, Dan (S&D, RO)

TURMES, Claude (Greens/EFA, LU)

Latest developments with regard to Russian Gas supplies to Ukraine: extracts from the exchange of views with Maroš ŠEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Energy Union

SOUNDBITE (English), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Energy Union, The share of Russian gas in the total non-EU imports is clearly the highest and currently is about 40 percent. We as the European Union are helping (Ukraina) , not only with our known-how but also with quite significant financial support which is exceeding 100 million Euros for this year.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Energy Union, So, there is no doubt that the tensions between the two countries, which in the recent past were prompted trough an awful Russian occupation of the Crimean peninsula and the terrible conflict in the eastern Ukraine have an immediate impact on the energy situation in Ukraine, but also on Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Energy Union, Therefore, we are seriously concerned about the developments between Gazprom and Naftogaz, which followed immediately after the arbitration decision of the 28th of February and Gazprom&rsquo;s initiative to terminate both gas contracts for supply and transit. If any termination is sought, we expected it to take place in an orderly manner, taking the right the rights and obligations of both sides and impact on third countries, such as the countries of the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Energy Union, It is still possible for Gazprom to comply with the agreement including the payment of 2.6 billion USD to Naftogaz and to deliver the gas supplies.  As you know, Ukraine triggered on the 1st of March the Early Warning Mechanism under the Association Agreement, after the gas order by Naftogaz was not delivered. This was for the first time that this mechanism was triggered.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Energy Union, Europe is very much dependant on the well-functioning, transparent, liquid internal energy market. And our regulatory framework, including the gas directive, is geared towards ensuring the proper functioning of the market and avoiding any market imbalances and abuses.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kri&#353;j&#257;nis KARI&#325;&#352; (EPP, LV), Unfortunately there is nothing new under the sun. We&rsquo;ve seen it in years past with the Russian government to through its monopoly Gazprom uses, and can use the gas suppliers as a political weapon

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Dan NICA (S&amp;D, RO), I refer to the Black Sea where natural gas resources have been found and that could have an important capacity. To give you just an example, they would be bigger than Romania's needs and could supply Hungary and Austria and Slovakia with natural gas. There is still a reluctance, but I believe that an intervention by the Commission in this case would make the diversification of supply sources to come as a response to the energy security strategy.

SOUNDBITE (French), Claude TURMES (Greens/EFA, LU), The same Russian operator - if I am well informed - even deliberately technically decreased the pressure in the gas pipeline at the border point to actually cause the implosion of the Ukrainian gas system. You did not mention this, but I think it's important for our colleagues to understand. This is a deliberate attack on the stability of the Ukrainian network, in addition to gas non-delivery.

SOUNDBITE (French), Claude TURMES (Greens/EFA, LU), For this transit agreement between Ukraine and Russia - that will end in 2020- 2021 - is it necessary to have a more important role for the European Commission and also from Germany and France - which have made the agreement of Minsk - to help Ukraine to have an agreement Russia. I have a message today also to the French Government and to President Macron: I find it unacceptable that a French government that has signed the Minsk agreements continues to scuttle the economic health of Ukraine by putting itself on the side Gazprom and its interests in this case.