Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The most recent difficulties point to the importance of the EU-Russia relationship in strategic terms. The dependence on gas from that part of the world is quite significant in the context of the EU's energy needs in the coming decades. Any bilateral problems which arise — in this case, between Russia and Ukraine — have had consequences for the supply to others, including new members of the EU and countries in the Balkans.

President Barroso made the point in the European Parliament that the contracts of those other third countries who are not involved in the dispute need to be respected in all circumstances. The relationship between Russia and the EU is not helped by incidents where the heating needs of millions of people were put at risk for weeks due to a bilateral problem between Ukraine and Russia. The President of the Commission was very clear that the legal obligations to EU countries should be respected and that their contractual arrangements with Russia need to be upheld, regardless of the supply issues that arise between Russia and Ukraine.

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