BRUSSELS, Dec 30: The European Commission on Friday called a special meeting next week to review gas supplies amid concerns about the knock-on effect if Russia goes ahead with a threat to cut the flow to Ukraine in a flaring dispute over gas prices.

European Union energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs decided to call the meeting of European gas experts next Wednesday in order “to deal with all eventualities” linked to the dispute, which the commission said it is following “very closely”.

“The meeting of the gas supply group will enable the European Commission to establish the situation on the ground with respect to longer term issues and to discuss the appropriate European response,” the commission said in a statement.—AFP