Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

The European Commission proposed that Ukraine review the level of tariffs for natural gas and heat and improve the scheme for making payments for consumed gas. sxc.hu The European Commission has proposed that Ukraine make concrete steps in reforming the oil and gas and energy sectors of the national economy.

The respective document made available to the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (Mirror Weekly) newspaper has been sent to Kyiv after talks on June 29 in Brussels where the question of giving Ukraine a loan to pump gas into its underground storage facilities was discussed.

The European Commission proposed that Ukraine review the level of tariffs for natural gas and heat and improve the scheme for making payments for consumed gas.

According to the document, Ukraine should also bring national laws on government purchase in line with international standards and the European Commission's directives.

In the commission's opinion, Ukraine's state gas company Naftogaz should be restructured, while the independence of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) should be strengthened.

The document also contains proposals on strengthening social protection in Ukraine's state budget for 2010 and making the country's gas extracting industry open for foreign direct investment.