Commission plans Brussels-Moscow ‘red phone’ for energy emergencies

The EU and Russia could create an energy hotline, similar to the red telephone that linked Washington and Moscow during the Cold War, to prevent disruptions in energy supplies, according to plans put forward by the European Commission.

The Commission has proposed the creation of an "early warning and ­consultation system" that would seek to prevent ­disruptions in gas and oil supplies before they occur­red. The Commission floated the idea during ­initial discussions between EU member states on 1 March on preparations for the EU-Russia summit.

Member states have reacted positively to the proposal and it is hoped a deal will be reached when Russian President Vladimir Putin meets his EU counterparts at a ­summit in Samara, Russia, on 18 May.

In the past two years, Russian gas and oil deliveries to the EU have been interrupted because of disputes between Russia and its neighbours, Ukraine and Belarus.

In January, a row between Belarus and Russia over the Druzhba pipeline - which supplies around 15% of the EU’s oil - caused deliveries to Poland, Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic to be suspended.

In January 2006, Russia cut gas exports to Ukraine for four days, dramatic­ally reducing supplies to much of central and eastern Europe.

Diplomats are optimistic that the Kremlin will back the deal.

The Commission’s proposals for a red telephone echo earlier calls from Putin’s chief EU adviser, Sergei Yastrzhembsky.

According to the Commission’s plans, transit countries such as Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova should be ­included in the system.

Russia has accused Bela­rus and Ukraine of siphoning off gas and oil destined for the EU in order to put ­political pressure on Russia by drawing the EU into what Russia described as bilateral disputes.

Alexander Rahr, head of the Russia programme at the German Council on Foreign Relations, said that increased contacts bet­ween the EU and Russia were badly needed.

"If people are talking about a new Cold War then we should be talking about ways to de-escalate it. There is a view in Moscow that the disputes over Ukraine and Belarus were problems of the communication strategy, which is correct," he said.

But according to Rahr, the links would have to be at a political level, not limited to experts. "There are no contacts to discuss ­energy except via the press, it needs to be leader to leader," he explained.

"It will put the Russians under pressure, to know that if something happens they have to call."

EU leaders, including German Chancellor Ang­ela Merkel, current president-in-office of the EU, criticised Russia in January for cutting oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline without consulting its customers.

The EU and Russia could create an energy hotline, similar to the red telephone that linked Washington and Moscow during the Cold War, to prevent disruptions in energy supplies, according to plans put forward by the European Commission.