EU worries (again) about Russian energy supplies

The issue of energy security has been thrust back on Europe's agenda with the interruption to Russian oil exports to central and eastern Europe. The Russians raised their prices to Belarus at the start of the year by imposing an export duty on their crude oil. Belarus retaliated by charging the Russians more to transport their oil through Belarus to countries further west, prompting the Russians to stop supplying Belarus altogether. The whole episode aroused fears across the EU of a repeat of the argument between Russia and Ukraine that led to a shortfall in gas deliveries to western Europe at the beginning of last year ( see 'Focus', January 2006 ).