Jose Manuel Barroso, speaking at a news conference in Brussels, said that the EU needed Russian natural gas supplies, and that he hoped Russia would aim to ensure a stable market and stable relations with such major energy consumers as the EU countries.
The EU expressed concerns early this year when a spat between Russia and Ukraine over gas prices led to shortfalls in Russian natural gas supplies to European consumers. Russia then accused Ukraine of stealing gas meant for European customers.
Barroso also said the EU had given close consideration to the article, Energy Egotism Is a Road to Nowhere, written by Russian President Vladimir Putin and published in the Wall Street Journal on February 28, on Russia's priorities in energy security.
