EU heads off another Russia-Ukraine gas row

The European Union is trying to head off another damaging gas row between Russia and Ukraine amid fears that crucial supplies to Europe could again be cut off this winter, AFP reports.

"Definitely, we consider that the probability exists," EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs told AFP on the sidelines of a meeting between European energy ministers here.

"We are taking all the necessary measures, not only to resolve the issue but also to prepare in case of an emergency," he said.

His comments come on the eve of talks between the EU, Russia, Ukraine and a number of financial institutions including the International Monetary Fund.

Ukraine, struggling to pay its gas bills to Russia, has applied to the IMF for an emergency loan.

Piebalgs said Brussels could step in to help find a solution, saying the EU would "continue to work with other international financial institutions to provide a loan if needed."

A diplomatic row between Moscow and Kiev exploded last January when Russia accused Ukraine of stealing gas bound for Europe and cut off supplies.

Russia provides about a quarter of the gas consumed in the EU -- 80% of that is piped through Ukraine.

The dispute exposed gaping weaknesses in the European system, such as poor interconnection between countries and dependence on one very basic network.

On July 16, the EU unveiled a series of proposals to improve the delivery of gas supplies throughout the 27-member bloc.

One idea is to create a common gas security indicator and supply standard.

Security for supplies would be supervised by national bodies, which would also set up a preventative action plan and emergency measures to deal with any crisis.

Those measures could call for investment in new interconnections or reverse flow pipelines, allowing gas to be pumped back if there were a change in supplier.

The commission has also warned member states to prepare for possible gas supply cuts by filling storage tanks ahead of winter when demand usually peaks.

The EU took a further step to reducing their dependency on Russian gas earlier this month when they signed a deal with Turkey over the proposed Nabucco pipeline.

The 3,300-kilometer project is due to bring gas from the Caspian Sea to Austria via Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary, bypassing Russia.