Barroso To Advice EU Energy Companies To File Lawsuit, Unless Gazprom, Naftogaz Immediately Restore Gas Deliveries

January 14, 2009 12:23 p.m. EST

Brussels, Belgium (AHN) - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned Wednesday officials of Gazprom and Naftogaz he will recommend that European gas firms affected by the deadlock between the two companies file a lawsuit. The only thing that would change his recommendation will be if the feuding Russian and Ukrainian firms immediately restore delivery.

The EU is resorting to applying more pressure on the two companies while the prime ministers of Bulgaria, Slovakia and Moldova discuss in Moscow and Kiev diplomatic strategies they plan to adopt.

Barroso threatened, quoted by BBC, "If the agreement is not honored, it means that Russia and Ukraine can no longer be regarded as reliable."

Because of the lack of heating gas, Bulgaria had to shut down schools and other public buildings, while Slovakia's gas reserve has gone down to just 11 days. With both Naftogaz and Gazprom apparently unwilling to give way, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulya Tymonshenko, quoted by BBC, "After 12 days, we will be obliged to resort to measures never seen in our history."