Russia,EU Run Into More Gas Problems

摘要

Energy relations between Russia and the European Union sank to new lows after Gazprom signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last week to expand cooperation with Algeria's Sonatrach.The two state-controlled companies are both among the biggest gas suppliers to the EU.Although the document is typically vague in nature,it led Italian Industry Minister Pierluigi Bersani to warn in a letter to the EU energy commissioner that the deal would reduce the number of gas suppliers and might push up prices in Europe.Italy's Eni,which is heavily dependent on both countries for gas and has long worked closely with Gazprom,quickly termed the Gazprom-Sonatrach deal a matter "of concern."