Bloomberg: Energy Security in Focus as Ukraine Unsettles EU Talks

The escalating crisis in Ukraine is moving security of gas supplies to the forefront of the European Union debate on how to design its climate and energy rules for the next decade.

Energy ministers from the EU’s 28 member states are set to discuss the unrest in the bloc’s eastern neighbor, which is the transit country for around half of Russian gas shipments to Europe, at their informal meeting in Athens today. The need to ensure energy security amid the crisis in Ukraine was also highlighted by nations from Ireland to Poland at a gathering of environment ministers yesterday.

“It’s creating a backdrop for the climate and energy package now more and more than ever before,” Ireland’s Environment Minister Phil Hogan said in an interview during the meeting of environment chiefs. “As each day passes, there’s more and more concern about energy security and security of gas supply for Europe in the years ahead.”
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