European Union (EU) energy ministers are holding an emergency meeting on Monday to agree on a common position on Russia’s request to be paid in rubles for gas deliveries under the penalty of obstruction theirs.
Gazprom, Russia’s energy giant, last week stopped delivering gas to Bulgaria and Poland after the two European countries refused to pay on terms demanded by Moscow.
While Sofia and Warsaw have already planned to end Russia’s gas imports by the end of the year and say they can pay for Gazprom’s suspension of deliveries, the decision has raised fears that other countries inEU find themselves in the same situation, including Germany, which is highly dependent on Russian gas.
The issue also threatens to open cracks in the united frontEU has been facing Russia since its offensive in Ukraine began, while differences between the community bloc countries remain on the procedure to be followed for gas imports.
With many European companies contractually making payments for Russian gas this month, it has been tight for twenty -seven members of theEU to clarify whether the continuation of such purchases constitutes a violation of European sanctions imposed against Moscow.
Brussels began considering a new directive after requests for it from several countries, including Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Poland and Slovakia.
Russia provides 40% of the needs ofEU on gas, a dependency at the root of Germany and other countries ’reluctance to abruptly stop Russia’s energy imports.
According to diplomats, theEU is expected to move towards a ban on Russia’s oil imports by the end of the year.
A new set of sanctions against Moscow, proposed by the European Commission, will be debated on Wednesday at a meeting of ambassadors ofEU.
Energy ministers on Monday will discuss the need to quickly secure non-Russian alternatives for gas supplies and build reserves, amid the threat of a shortage that could sink European countries into turmoil. retreat.
Source: Radio-Canada