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MOSCOW, September 4 (RIA Novosti) The European Union is preparing short-term measures to secure gas supplies this winter if its largest supplier, Russia, cuts exports due to the crisis in Ukraine, according to a draft document quoted by Reuters Thursday.

The draft document, which confirms information from a European Commission source, says the European Union could take emergency measures to ensure that more coordinated use is made of facilities for converting liquefied natural gas (LNG) back into natural gas and of gas storage capacity, which can be done "when the normal functioning of the market does not lead to the optimal use of those facilities.

The measures could also include making use of existing powers to ban companies from selling LNG tanker cargoes outside Europe, keep more gas in reserve, and order industry to stop using gas, according to the document.

The proposed EU measures aim to ensure that more gas stays in Europe, however, the European infrastructure is not well enough developed to bring large quantities of non-Russian gas into the region.

Russia's gas giant Gazprom meets around a third of Europe's gas demand, sending almost half of these supplies via Ukraine. However the gas pipelines running through Ukraine became the subject of political maneuvering after the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis.

Three-party consultations between Russia, Ukraine and the European Union on gas issues have been going on since April, but have not yielded any significant results.

Ukraine has refused to pay Russia $500 per 1,000 cubic meters and has offered Moscow to set the gas prices at $300 per 1,000 cubic meters during the low season and $380 during the winter season instead, or tie the gas prices to the spot market in Europe.

On June 16, after several unsuccessful rounds of talks, Russian gas company Gazprom was forced to implement a prepayment scheme for gas supplies to Ukraine over its accumulated debt.

As of today, Kievs gas debt to Russia is estimated to stand at over $5.3 billion.

Within six months, Ukraine plans to sign new agreements with the European Union on the transit of Russian gas and move the EU gas receiving point to the eastern border of Ukraine.

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EU Taking Short-Term Measures to Secure Gas Supplies for Winter: Reports

Paris Peaceful and prosperous, an independent Scotland would seem ashoo-in for European Union membership.

But if Scots vote Yes on Thursday, its unclear how seamlessly it could rejoin the 28-member bloc and, more contentiously, on what terms.

Brussels has not publicly taken a position on Scotland's referendum.While the EU iswary of membership enlargement overall, Scots argue that they've belonged since 1973, when the United Kingdom joined.Whats more, Scots favor the EU, unlike the Euroskeptics in the ascendancyacross the border in England.

But some member states might resist Scotlands accession to the bloc because of their own concerns of secession. And if Scots seek the opt-outs that it currently enjoys because it belongs to the UK such as keeping its own currency the negotiating process could be fraught with uncertainties.

Although there are partial precedents for countries that have left the bloc or expanded like Greenlands exit or East Germanys entrance no EU country has ever split from another and reapplied for membership.

On the one hand it should be very easy, and on the other very complicated, saysSonia Piedrafita, a research fellow in the politics and institutions division at the Center for European Policy Studiesin Brussels. Nothing is crystal clear.

There is consensus across Europe that if Scotland breaks away it would be outside the EU and need to re-apply. Scottish nationalists argue that their state would be seen as a member that wants to renegotiate their relationship with the EU and that the process would be fast-tracked in as little as 18 months.

But critics warn that Scotland would face a lengthy process like any other brand new member. Moreover, once it applies,all 28 members of the union have to agree to accept their accession. No one is sure whether countries with their own independence movements, like Spain, would oppose Scotlands membership.

If Scotland is granted membership, the length of negotiations could depend on what the new nation actually seeks from the organization. When the UK signed the Maastricht Treaty that led to the single currency in 1992, it was able to keep the pound, as Scotland wants to do. But the current treaty specifies that all new members must eventually embrace the euro as their currency. If Scotland seeks an opt-out, other countries could demand that their positions are renegotiated.

Academics and analysts are just as split as the Scottish electorate on how painstaking the process would be. John Kerr, chairman of the Center for European Reform in London, warns that the EU would be in uncharted waters in a July paper. However,Sionaidh Douglas-Scott, professor at Oxford University, writes that the democracy-promoting EUwould undermine its own credibility if it were to dispossess Scots of their acquired rights and EU citizenship as a result of Scotland using the democratic right to vote for independence.

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For an independent Scotland, no easy path to EU membership (+video)

The European Union will spend 3 million ($3.9 million) on a program to encourage small and medium enterprises to invest in Cambodia.

Speaking at a conference yesterday in Phnom Penh, EU Ambassador to Cambodia Jean-Francois Cautain said the five-year grant to be managed by EuroCham would be used to market Cambodia as an investment destination for European businesses and to strengthen advocacy to create a favourable business environment in the Kingdom.

I think that 24 per cent of total FDI in ASEAN countries are coming from European Union investors. If we look at Cambodia it is only 2 per cent coming from European Union investors, Cautain said.

So I think there is room for improvement when it comes to businesses here in Cambodia.

Curtain added that a larger presence from European businesses would help create greater competition and a more sustainable business environment.

EuroCham chairman Emmanuel Menanteau said Europes proximity to Southeast Asia and lack of knowledge of Cambodias business climate meant European businesses had a much smaller presence here than countries like China, Japan and South Korea.

Especially for small and medium enterprises, we usually see Cambodia as a very faraway country with a different way of doing business, and we are unable to approach the market because mostly they dont know how to do it, he said.

Menanteau said that the grant would allow EuroCham to boost Cambodias image in both in the EU and in ASEAN, where many European investors were already well established.

They [European businesses] dont know what kind of businesses opportunities are represented here, he said.

The EuroCham chairman said that his organisation would focus on attracting European SMEs looking to invest in value-added manufacturing, as well as in sectors such as hospitality and tourism, where European firms already have some presence.

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EU gives $3.9 million to attract investment

PNoy's Statement during a Joint Press Conf. with European Council Pres. Rompuy, 16 Sept 2014

Source: Video from RTVM President Benigno S. Aquino IIIs Statement during a joint press conference after meeting with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, Brussels, Belgium | Statement (Full text) below | President Herman Van Rompuy, friends from the European Union, ladies and gentlemen: Mr. President, allow me to express the gratitude for the excellent arrangements the staff and officers of the European Council have made in this second meeting of ours. This engagement, I believe, is all the more meaningful as we mark 50 years of friendship between the Philippines and the European Uniona partnership, which as I have conveyed to President Barroso, has had a very positive impact on the lives of my countrymen. Allow me, therefore, to reiterate the profound gratitude of our people for the invaluable assistance the European Union and its member states have extended to us in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. Your solidarity and support have helped many of my affected countrymen rise from the rubble of devastation, and thus rebuild their lives and communities in a better and faster manner. Such kindness will never be forgotten by a grateful nation. Ladies and gentlemen, the President and I had a very engaged and open discussion today. We recalled the outstanding cooperation witnessed between the Philippines and the European Union over the past few yearsone that has culminated with the signing of our Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in 2012, which, once ratified, will serve as a general framework of our relations covering many areas of interest. I shared with President Van Rompuy the developments in Mindanao, a region which now sees a new future of peace, stability, and prosperity on the horizon. I informed the President that we have submitted the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law to Congress. We expect our Congress to pass this bill at the soonest possible time, so that we may implement even further positive change in the Land of Promise, and the transition to being the Land of Promises Fulfilled. The European Union has been one of our most valuable partners in securing and sustaining peace in Mindanao, and we are indeed grateful for the EUs continued support as we tread the straight and righteous path to peace and equitable development. The President and I also exchanged views on issues of common strategic concern, particularly maritime security. We discussed the new EU Maritime Strategy. In this regard, the EUs interest to be more actively engaged in ensuring freedom of navigation in the seas of Asia is welcome news, especially since it is a strategy anchored on the principles of international law. This new Maritime Strategy, might I note, emphasizes the rules-based governance of the maritime domain, the respect for existing international instruments such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as maritime multilateralism. The European Union has, without doubt, played a significant role in advancing the rule of law, not only in its region but also in the larger community of nations. We indeed value the EUs contributions to ensuring the peaceful and rules-based settlement of the conflicting claims in the South China Sea, an area which has served as a common domain for the many peoples of our region for centuries. As President, I believe that the EU may contribute so much more in championing this meaningful causein particular, in helping convince other parties to refrain from activities that increase tensions, clarifying their claims based on the UNCLOS, and thus submit the disputes to reasonable, rules-based, peaceful modes of resolution, such as arbitration. After all, it is our shared belief that adherence to the rule of law ensures stability, which in turn serves as the cornerstone of equitable advancement. This is the context in which the President and I affirmed our intent to further strengthen cooperation in a multitude of fields. We agreed to fast-track the completion of our respective internal procedures to ratify the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. We also committed to intensify consultations and cooperation on matters of mutual concern, both at the bilateral and multilateral levels. Finally, we agreed that it is high time for us to build an even more strategic partnershipone that not only focuses on aid and trade, but more importantly enables us to lay the foundations of a future teeming of opportunities for all our peoples, one where no one is left behind. Mr. President, I am confident that, as demonstrated by our engagement and the openness that we have demonstrated to one another, the partnership between the EU and the Philippines will not only remain strong and dynamic, but will serve as a beacon of cooperation and inclusiveness for generations to come. Thank you, and good day.

The rest is here:
Press statement by the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy following his meeting with the President of ...

Paris Peaceful and prosperous, an independent Scotland would seem ashoo-in for European Union membership.

But if Scots vote Yes on Thursday, its unclear how seamlessly it could rejoin the 28-member bloc and, more contentiously, on what terms.

Brussels has not publicly taken a position on Scotland's referendum.While the EU iswary of membership enlargement overall, Scots argue that they've belonged since 1973, when the United Kingdom joined.Whats more, Scots favor the EU, unlike the Euroskeptics in the ascendancyacross the border in England.

But some member states might resist Scotlands accession to the bloc because of their own concerns of secession. And if Scots seek the opt-outs that it currently enjoys because it belongs to the UK such as keeping its own currency the negotiating process could be fraught with uncertainties.

Although there are partial precedents for countries that have left the bloc or expanded like Greenlands exit or East Germanys entrance no EU country has ever split from another and reapplied for membership.

On the one hand it should be very easy, and on the other very complicated, saysSonia Piedrafita, a research fellow in the politics and institutions division at the Center for European Policy Studiesin Brussels. Nothing is crystal clear.

There is consensus across Europe that if Scotland breaks away it would be outside the EU and need to re-apply. Scottish nationalists argue that their state would be seen as a member that wants to renegotiate their relationship with the EU and that the process would be fast-tracked in as little as 18 months.

But critics warn that Scotland would face a lengthy process like any other brand new member. Moreover, once it applies,all 28 members of the union have to agree to accept their accession. No one is sure whether countries with their own independence movements, like Spain, would oppose Scotlands membership.

If Scotland is granted membership, the length of negotiations could depend on what the new nation actually seeks from the organization. When the UK signed the Maastricht Treaty that led to the single currency in 1992, it was able to keep the pound, as Scotland wants to do. But the current treaty specifies that all new members must eventually embrace the euro as their currency. If Scotland seeks an opt-out, other countries could demand that their positions are renegotiated.

Academics and analysts are just as split as the Scottish electorate on how painstaking the process would be. John Kerr, chairman of the Center for European Reform in London, warns that the EU would be in uncharted waters in a July paper. However,Sionaidh Douglas-Scott, professor at Oxford University, writes that the democracy-promoting EUwould undermine its own credibility if it were to dispossess Scots of their acquired rights and EU citizenship as a result of Scotland using the democratic right to vote for independence.

See more here:
For an independent Scotland, no easy path to EU membership