EU Seeks To 'Clarify' Gas Links With Russia

A Gazprom gas storage facility (file photo) (ITAR-TASS)

BRUSSELS, May 2, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- The European Commission and the EU's current Austrian presidency have written to the Russian government seeking to "clarify" recent tensions in their energy relationship.

The letter says the EU and Russia will remain in a relationship of "mutually beneficial interdependence."

The EU says it will not discriminate against Gazprom in its attempts to expand into European markets, but notes Russia must give EU companies access to its domestic pipelines.