BRUSSELS, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- There is no immediate danger to gas supplies to the European Union (EU) after a pricing dispute between Russia and Ukraine resulted in minor disruptions, the European Commission said on Monday.

A worker checks the gas pressure in Hungary's pipelines at oil and gas group MOL's gas transmission subsidiary in Vecses Jan. 2, 2009. The European Union (EU) called on Friday for immediate resumption of full deliveries of gas to its member states. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "At this point in time, consumers remain unaffected, and there is no immediate danger to gas supplies to European consumers," Commission spokesman Ferran Tarradellas Espuny told a daily news conference in Brussels.

    "We do not see any real danger to normal gas supplies to the industry either at this point in time," he added.

    Russian gas giant Gazprom halted supply of natural gas to Ukraine on Thursday after the two sides failed to reach a deal on a contract dispute.

    Several EU member states had reported disruptions to their gas supplies as a result of the row, while Russia and Ukraine blamed each other for it.

    The EU receives a fourth of its gas from Russia, with around 80percent of those transported through pipelines which cross Ukraine.

    "There have been minor supply problems reported in Hungary, and Slovakia. In Romania, a substantial loss of pressure was reported," Tarradellas Espuny said, adding the EU's reserve stocks remained "quite high".

    "But the situation is changing every minute, this could change any hour," he warned.

    A crisis meeting of envoys from the 27 EU member states is being held on Monday afternoon to discuss the gas dispute between Russian and Ukraine.

    Another Commission spokesman said the EU is in close contact with both sides in a bid to clarify the situation.

    "Since we are the main market for Russian gas... we have an obvious interest in applying pressure on these parties to reach as soon as possible an agreement which is definitive," Johannes Laitenberger said.

    The EU sent a fact-finding mission to Kiev for talks with Ukraine gas officials on Monday and a meeting with Gazprom leaders was also planned in an unspecified European capital on Tuesday.

    An EU delegation will be sent to Russia later this week to press for a rapid solution.

Economic, political wrestling behind Russia-Ukraine gas row 

Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom's headquarters is seen in Moscow, Jan. 3, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Russia's suspension of gas supplies to Ukraine has entered the third day with no settlement in sight. Some European countries have begun to be affected by a gas shortfall.

    On Friday, Russia's state gas monopoly Gazprom accused Ukraine of "stealing" gas in transit. Ukrainian officials denied the accusation, saying that they are withdrawing only enough gas to operate pumping stations serving the pipelines.

Ukraine warns EU of serious gas shortfall in near future 

    KIEV, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine warned on Saturday the European Union (EU) that the bloc could face serious gas shortfall in around 10 days if the gas row between Russia and Ukraine is not resolved.

    "If the Russian side does not provide more gas (to EU member states) than at the moment, then in around 10 days there could be very serious technical problems," President Viktor Yushchenko's representative on energy security Bogdan Sokolovski told a news conference.

Romania's gas supply not to be affected by dispute between Ukraine, Russia: FM 

    BUCHAREST, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Romania's supply with gas imported from Russia will not be affected by the problem existing between Kiev and Moscow, Romanian Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Ogryzko in a telephone conversation on Saturday.

    According to a press release issued by the Romanian Foreign Ministry, Ogryzko assured Diaconescu that Romania would have to bear no consequences following this situation. He said he wanted Romania's support for a European mission to come to Kiev in order to evaluate the problem of gas supply.

Russian gas supply to Bulgaria reduces 

    SOFIA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The CEO of Bulgarian gas supplier "Bulgargaz" Dimiter Gogov said Russian natural gas supply to Bulgaria went down Saturday but has not yet reached a critical low point, according to local press report.

    "The pressure in the pipe has gone down and since Saturday morning we receive lower quantities of natural gas," Gogov said.

EU calls for immediate resumption of gas deliveries

    BRUSSELS, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) called on Friday for immediate resumption of full deliveries of gas to its member states after Hungary and Poland suffered reduced supplies due to Russia's dispute with Ukraine.

    "The European Union calls for an urgent solution to the commercial dispute on gas supplies from the Russian Federation to Ukraine and for an immediate resumption of full deliveries of gas to the EU member states," the Czech government, which assumed the EU presidency in the new year, said in a statement.

Ukrainian president: Gas dispute with Russia will be settled soon

    KIEV, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Gas dispute with Russia will be settled by Jan.7, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said in a statement Thursday.

    "I think that we are close to a compromise and I ask the Russian president, the Russian prime minister and Ukrainian negotiators ... to do all they can so the talks can be completed as soon as possible."

Russia cuts off gas supplies to Ukraine

    MOSCOW, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia's state gas monopoly Gazprom cut all natural gas supplies to Ukraine on Thursday morning after talks broke down over payments for past shipments and a new energy price contract for 2009, a company spokesman said.

    "Gas supplies have been completely cut as of 10:00 a.m. (0700 GMT) today," spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said at a press conference.  Full story