The European Union yesterday weighed in to the row between Gazprom, Russia's state-controlled energy group, and Belarus over gas exports, warning the two sides against interrupting supplies.

In a sign of growing concern in Brussels about the dispute and its implication for the security of European gas supplies, the EU's energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs announced a special meeting next week of the bloc's gas co-ordination group.

His move came in response to Gazprom's threat to turn off supplies to Belarus on January 1st unless Belarus agreed to a doubling of the gas price and gave up 50 per cent of its pipeline network in part payment for gas. Though Ukraine yesterday offered to make up any shortfall in supplies to Europe, the row has come as another drastic reminder to Brussels and national capitals of the Continent's dependency on gas supplies from its eastern neighbour.

"The commission is following the situation very closely since it may affect gas supplies to the European Union," Mr Piebalgs said. "I call [ on] the two parties to reach as soon as possible a satisfactory agreement that does not put in question gas transits to the EU."

The gas co-ordination group brings together national governments, the EU's energy industry and consumer groups, and is tasked with developing a combined response to supply shortages.

Russia accounts for 44 per cent of EU gas imports and about a quarter of total gas consumption.