EU Czech Presidency: EU might take a common stand on the gas crisis

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek warned that if natural gas deliveries will not be resumed by Thursday, the European Union might take a common stand, AFP informs. However, the Czech PM did not give any other details on a possible EU reaction but he urged for an urgent solution of the Russian – Ukrainian conflict.

He added that the current crisis is a lot worse than the one back in 2005-2006 and it is unique because the two countries have a more aggressive stance regarding their own interests. According to him, all countries, including Germany, will have to face serious consequences if the crisis will not be resolved in due time.

At his turn, EC President Jose Manuel Barroso urged both Russia’s and Ukraine’s PMs, Putin and Timoshenko to resume deliveries, and qualified the crisis as unacceptable. On Monday, Russian PM Vladimir Putin requested Gazprom to reduce the volume of natural gas to Europe. On Wednesday, Russia shut down the natural gas supplies that transits through Ukraine.