European Crisis Strategy The Russian-Ukraine gas dispute at the
beginning of 2009 became a crucial test for the European gas
industry. In some countries, in particular Eastern and South
Eastern Europe, the interruption in deliveries had severe
effects on private households and industry. The German
consumers, by contrast, did not feel the crisis at all. They
benefited from the good supply system which the energy companies
had built up in the years before to safeguard secure supplies of
gas, even in times of crisis. The German government and the
Federal Network Agency both praised the crisis management of the
gas supply companies. The Federal Ministry of Economics
underlined the high competence of the companies, stating that
they had been able to react quickly and comprehensively and
procure the volumes of gas required to avoid supply bottlenecks.
The Federal Network Agency attested that the German gas industry
was also well equipped for any possible crises to come. At
European level, the Russian-Ukraine gas co