There are two problems associated with this issue. One is the issue of infrastructure. This means pipelines. The second one concerns the possibility of reverse flows. Both are hindering the possibility of diversification and increasing the supply of gas in the short term in this part of Europe.
In regard to Ukraine, Poland could supply this country with roughly 1.5-bcm annually. Also, Hungary could supply gas on more or less the same level. However, the only substantial possibility of assisting Ukraine in the delivery of gas from the European Union would be through Slovakia. There are ongoing talks on creating a reverse flow on the Brotherhood pipeline, but this would require substantial modernization of the pipeline itself, because it would have to be done not only on the border but also on the long stretch of the pipeline deep into Ukraine. Secondly, from the legal point of view, it would require certain adjustments and agreements, including a certain solution that has to be agreed on with Gazprom, a major stakeholder in this issue.
In regard to the central and eastern part of Europe, there are already some interconnectors that have been developed between the countries since the crisis in 2009—for example, the interconnectors between Poland and down to Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and other countries in the region. But at the moment, these are inadequate to deal with a massive crisis comparable to the crisis in January 2009. This requires many huge investments that cannot be done purely on the basis of market principles. They require substantial assistance from public funds.
Thank you.