IP/09/4

Brussels, 6 January 2009

Joint statement by the Czech EU Presidency and the European Commission

Without prior warning and in clear contradiction with the reassurances given by the highest Russian and Ukrainian authorities to the European Union, gas supplies to some EU member States have been substantially cut. This is completely unacceptable.

The Czech EU Presidency and the European Commission demand that gas supplies be immediately restored to the EU and that the two parties resume at once negotiations with a view to a definitive settlement of their bilateral commercial dispute.

The Czech Presidency and the Commission intend to continue in the dialogue with both parties so that they can reach an agreement immediately.