On the results of a visit of Gazprom delegation to Brussels
Today a Gazprom delegation headed by company CEO Alexei Miller visited Brussels.
During the visit Alexei Miller met with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, and European Parliament President Hans Gert Pettering.
Alexei Miller informed the leadership of the European Union and the European Commission on the existing critical situation with the transit of Russian natural gas across the territory of Ukraine to Europe and the reasons that triggered the crisis.
The main issue discussed at the meetings comprised a complex of measures to resume transportation of Russian gas via Ukrainian territory as soon as possible. An agreement in principle has been reached to create a multilateral committee of independent monitors who would work at gas measuring hubs and stations in Ukraine.
"As soon as international monitors arrive Ukraine will have to immediately resume the transit of Russian gas to Europe," Alexei Miller said.
Gazprom’s CEO stressed that the engagement of independent monitors would ensure gas deliveries to Europe in full volume.
"We contacted the companies consuming Russian gas with a proposal about their participation in the work of the international committee of independent monitors. Ten companies agreed. It is proposed that representatives of the Russian and Ukrainian energy ministries and of the European Commission participate in the work of the committee. A corresponding protocol has been signed by Gazprom and has been handed over to the European Commission leadership," Alexei Miller said.
Summing up the results of the visit, Alexei Miller stressed that Gazprom is taking all measures for an early resolution of the crisis situation. However the protocol on the creation of the committee of monitors has not been signed yet by the European Commission and encountered objections from the Ukrainian side.
The Ukrainian side refused to create the multilateral committee of monitors with the participation of Gazprom, the Russian energy ministry, specialized auditors and companies that purchase Russian gas and insists that only representatives of the Ukrainian side and the European Commission should participate in the work of the committee. We call on all the participants in the process to come to an agreement as soon as possible and take all measures in order to resume gas deliveries to Europe," Alexei Miller said.