Gas consortium - a topic for the presidential candidates

Julia Tymoshenko has declared that her idea for the development of the Ukrainian gas transit system is radically different from that of Mr. Yanukovich and Mr. Tigipko. Both Yanukovich and Tigipko said that they support the idea of a gas consortium to manage Ukrainian gas transit system. While Yanukovich was less clear about the membership in the consortium Tigipko was more clear: 50% in Ukrainian ownership, 25% in Russian and 25% in European. That kind of consortium according to Tigipko would guarantee that the consortium is stable and guarantees Ukrainian interest.

In the recent Focus on Ukraine note from German Marshall Fund its Senior Fellow Jorg Himmelreich seems to support Mr Tigipko (or vice versa):

But more than this: the EU should think about buying into or leasing stakes in Naftogaz by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) or other international financial institutions. Such an EU investment touches Ukrainian sensibilities about its sovereignty, because gas pipelines and storage capacities are perceived as assets of Ukraine’s sovereignty. But the EU stakeholdership should also be seen as strengthening Ukraine’s negotiating position with Gazprom. The European Union as a stakeholder could then enforce the transparency of Naftogaz and Ukraine’s energy sector—and that would unblock Ukraine’s political and economic transformation.

 Recipy from GMF is enticing. Indeed the time has shown that Ukraine is unable by itself to untangle the gas knot named Naftogaz. European and Russian participation in the gas consortium would seem to guarantee the bright future of the enterprise. However, Russia is interested in making its gas more competitive and EU also wouldn't mind cheaper gas. These interests make Russia and EU perfect collaborators in taming Ukrainian side.

EU and US grow tired of Ukraine

Ukraine fatigue spreads among Ukraine's Western partners in Europe and in the US. Economist publishes an article basically saying that US will not endanger its "reload" of relations with Russia, which basically means Ukraine will not be in the Washington's eye that much anymore.

EU in its turn, as the article in Telegraph says, is losing patience with Ukraine. For some strange reason European officials don't like that Ukrain doesn't move with reforms and finances with electoral promises with international money.

Ukraine is a difficult partner to deal with lately, especially with elections coming up. Hopefully things will change after the president is elected and local and national parliamentary elections are done.

EU to give €70 million for energy efficiency in Ukraine

The Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership will be launched during a donor conference, jointly organised by the European Commission and the Swedish Presidency of the EU, on 26 November in Stockholm.

The European Commission is already supporting efforts to improve Energy Efficiency in Ukraine, and will begin disbursing €70 million in related sectoral budget support early next year.