Row over Russian gas supplies to Europe deepens | Australian Herald

Row over Russian gas supplies to Europe deepens

Australian Herald Saturday 3rd January, 2009

Europe has demanded an immediate resumption of supplies of natural gas to EU countries after Russia cut supplies to Ukraine.

The European Union presidency said Friday supply commitments must be honored under all circumstances.

European countries began to suffer from reduced gas supplies Friday after Russia cut deliveries to Ukraine on Thursday over a price dispute.

The EU Commission said Hungary suffered a drop of almost a quarter of its contracted supply of 10 million cubic meters.

Poland reported a 6% in gas deliveries but says Russia's state-run natural gas firm, Gazprom, made up the difference by increasing deliveries through Belarus.

And Romanian officials say they have experienced a 30 to 40% fall in Russian gas supplies.

The Czech Republic, which holds the rotating European Union presidency, scheduled a special meeting of envoys from all 27 EU states in Prague Monday to discuss the crisis.