EU welcomes deal signed to send gas from Slovakia to Ukraine

The European Commission said on Monday it welcomes the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Slovakia and Ukraine which is enabling gas flows from Slovakia to Ukriane. "I warmly congratulate all parties involved on the breakthrough in the negotiations on gas flows from Slovakia to Ukraine," said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. "This is an important first step to diversify Ukraine's sources of gas supply and contributes to greater energy security in Eastern Europe and the EU as a whole," said Barroso. Based on the solution, an existing and unused pipeline on the Slovakian side will be modernized and 22 million cubic meters of gas a day can flow from Slovakia to Ukraine from autumn 2014. European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said the deal marks a milestone. "It is a first step for gas flows from Slovakia to Ukraine and strengthens the ties between the EU's energy market and Ukraine, "he said in a statement, adding "Deliveries from EU Member States offer Ukraine access to gas priced on the basis of fair and transparent principles."