German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the fact that Germany was not informed of the suspension of oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline in Belarus 'destroyed confidence' in Russia as an energy supplier.
The European Commission also says it is 'unacceptable' that it was not informed of the suspension in oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline in Belarus. It called for shipments to resume 'immediately'.
Commission spokesman on energy issues, Ferran Tarradellas, called on Belarus and Russia to 'rapidly' find a mutually acceptable solution.
Belarussian officials are in Moscow for talks after a cut in oil supplies from Russia through the Druzhba pipeline across Belarus to several European countries.
Belarus is insisting that Russia pay a $45 per tonne fee for oil passing through the pipeline across its territory, but Russia says the fee is illegal. Both countries accuse each other of provoking the halt in supplies.
About 12.5% of the oil the EU consumes comes through the pipeline from Russia, which provides half of the EU's oil imports.
Earlier, the International Energy Agency has said European oil markets could cope with a halt to Russian oil exports through Belarus for the moment, as there were several days of reserves available.
