The European Union on Thursday gave a positive assessment of the last-minute gas pricing deal between Belarus and Russia, saying there would be sufficient gas for Europe this winter.

At the request of the EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, the Gas Coordination Group met in Brussels to assess the reliability of gas supply through Belarus after a pricing dispute was finally settled between Russian gas monopoly Gazprom and Belarus on Dec. 31, 2006.

The Gas Coordination Group, chaired by the European Commission and composed of representatives from member states as well as industry and consumers, welcomed the deal outlined during the meeting by Vladimir Senko, Belarus Ambassador to the EU.

Russia threatened to cut off gas supplies to Belarus during the recent dispute over a price raise. According to the agreement reached nearly in the last minute of the past year, Belarus would buy gas at 100 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters in 2007, more than doubling what Belarus paid in 2006 for Russian gas.

About 20 percent of Russian gas imports in the EU transit through Belarus, mainly to Poland, Germany and Lithuania.

"A secure and predictable energy supply is a must for European economy and a right for European citizens. Security of energy supply is one of the key elements of the European Energy Policy that the Commission is going to present on 10 January," said Piebalgs.

The Gas Coordination Group also said the measures taken by the member states were appropriate to ensure security of gas supply this winter, considering the mild weather so far and the current situation of storage and gas flows.

Source: Xinhua