GERMANY: EU and Germany condemn Russian oil actions

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday it was unacceptable for Russia to have closed off oil supplies to European nations without consultation. "While there is no immediate risk to supply, it is not acceptable for suppliers or transit countries to take measures without consultation. Of course this is a matter for concern," Barroso said in Berlin when asked about Russia's decision. Barroso and other members of the European Commission were in Berlin to discuss Germany's presidency of the EU, which began this month. Russia, the world's second largest oil exporter, acted after accusing Belarus of stealing oil from Druzhba, a pipeline carrying two fifths of its total exports. Five central European countries, including Poland and Germany, have been affected. "I support what Jose Manuel Barroso said, namely that it's unacceptable when there are no consultations on such actions," Merkel said. "That hurts trust and it makes it difficult to build a cooperative relationship based on trust," she added. She said she planned to tell both Russia and Belarus that such consultations were a "minimum" in the event of disputes over energy. As president, Germany, will be responsible for leading European efforts to map out an energy strategy for the bloc over the coming months. It has also been charged with the difficult task of negotiating a new EU-Russia cooperation pact, although those talks have been held up by a trade dispute between Moscow and Warsaw over meat. Europe is heavily reliant on Russia for its oil and gas and is vulnerable to Russian supply cuts.

ITN Source | January 9, 2007

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