Est. 2min 05-01-2006 (updated: 07-11-2012 ) pipeline_pic_isp_Peter_Ingvorsen.jpg Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram The EU expressed relief after an agreement was reached on the supply of gas to the Ukraine, but the challenge of the EU’s reliance on energy resources from unstable or politically tense regions remains on the table. The ‘gas crisis’ underlines one of the fundamental weaknesses of European energy policy. Because of national interests, there is no real common European energy policy and efforts to create an internal energy market are also hampered by all kind of obstacles. At the informal Hampton Court meeting of EU leaders in October 2005, the UK presidency called for a stronger European co-ordination of energy policy. The Commission is expected to prepare a communication on elements of a European common energy policy for the March 2006 Spring Summit. In their press conference following the Gas Coordination Group meeting on 4 January, Energy Commissioner Piebalgs as well as Austrian Economy Minister Bartenstein expressed their satisfaction about the Ukraine-Russia agreement and emphasised the need for more co-operation on energy policy. They stated that they continue to see Russia and the Ukraine as reliable energy partners. Commissioner Piebalgs also stressed improved dialogue with energy partners and said that Europe has to invest more in its own energy resources (energy efficiency measures, renewables and, possibly, nuclear). Read more with Euractiv FP7 high up on the research agenda Now that an initial deal on the EU's long-term budget has been reached, the Austrian and Finnish Presidencies are set to concentrate on fast adoption of FP7 to ensure a smooth transition between the current FP6 and FP7. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters BackgroundThe short gas supply crisis that arose after Russia decided to cut off gas deliveries to the Ukraine was resolved on the night of 4 January when the respective energy companies Gazprom and Naftogaz concluded a face-saving but complex agreement on the new price for gas deliveries to the former Soviet country. The commercial boycott, which came about as a result of the Ukraine government's refusal to pay the full market price for gas from its Russian neighbour, clearly had political overtones, as the Putin government might have an interest in influencing the upcoming presidential elections in the Ukraine. But the fact that several EU member states saw a short interruption of gas supplies raised the spectre of energy dependency and had the Commission call for an emergency meeting of the EU's Gas Coordination Group on 4 January 2006. This group of representatives of member states, industry and consumers was set up as a result of Council Directive 2004/67/EC concerning measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply. Currently, more than 40% of the EU's consumption of gas is imported and this could rise to 70% in 2020. More than 25% of gas supplies come from Russia and with dwindling European gas reserves (in the UK, Netherlands and Norway), this will also rise considerably in the future. Further ReadingThink tanks & Academia Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN):ENGAGED - Long term gas supply security in an enlarged Europe, (DG TREN Research project), Dezember 2003 Press articles Forbes:EU presidency's Bartenstein urges diversification of Europe's energy supplies BBC News:Where Europe gets its gas from Guardian:Q&A: the gas crisis - update Economist:A murky deal ends the Russian gas row Le Monde:Russie et Ukraine signent un accord de cinq ans mettant fin à la "guerre du gaz" Le Figaro:Gaz, atome et dépendance Financial Times Germany:Erleichterung nach Gasstreit-Ende Neue Zürcher Zeitung:Russisch-ukrainischer Erdgas-Streit beigelegt Non-assigned links Österreichischer Ratsvorsitz:Press release "EU Council Presidency and European Commission welcome agreement between Gazprom and Naftogaz", (4. Januar 2006) Kommission:Speech Andris Piebalgs at press conference, (4. Januar 2006) ScadPlus:Erdgasversorgungssicherheit GD Energie und Verkehr:Dokumente zum Grünbuch "Hin zu einer europäischen Strategie für Energieversorgungssicherheit"
