The European Commission (EC) has made it clear that the condition set by Russia for Ukraine to create a consortium on the Ukrainian gas transport system – withdrawal from the Energy Community – will jeopardize Ukraine's sovereign interests in energy security. This follows from a commentary of the European Commission, which was provided at Interfax-Ukraine's request. "The EU has always believed that it is in the sovereign interests of Ukraine that any agreement complies with the commitments that Ukraine assumed as part of the Energy Community," the European Commission said.
The commentary notes that Ukraine's membership of the Energy Community is a tool of cooperation in order to "continue to work in the direction of economic activity, competitiveness, transparency, sustainability and integrated energy market, which would be attractive to the necessary investment."
"It also helps protect Ukrainian energy security from the consequences of an anti-competitive energy market, which depends on one main external supplier, and the work on reverse gas supplies from the EU to Ukraine is a bright example of this," the European Commission said.
In this regard, the EC reiterated its readiness "to help Ukraine with advice to prevent undesirable consequences of any agreements that it wants to conclude."
"The Energy Community Treaty is an integral part of comprehensive EU-Ukraine relations, and we expect that Ukraine to fully comply with these rules," reads the commentary.
In addition, the European Commission again noted its position, according to which "the EU wants, if, of course, Ukraine and Russia wants that, to enter into tripartite consultations on gas transit at any time."
"The Commission also stated many times that it is ready to play a facilitating role in a possible trilateral EU-Ukraine-Russia consortium, ensuring compliance with European and international law, including the Energy Community Treaty," reads the commentary.
As reported, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said earlier that Russia's participation in a consortium to manage the Ukrainian gas transport system is possible if Kyiv refuses to follow the EU's energy rules.
"The alliance between Russia and Ukraine can be possible only if Ukraine withdraws from a number of institutions, including the Treaty establishing the Energy Community," he said.