Russian gas flows to EU returning to normal: Commission

(BRUSSELS) - Gas flows from Russia have returned to normal levels in six European Union nations and are increasing in Italy, Germany and Romania after a cold snap caused a shortfall, the EU said Monday.

Supplies are back to normal in Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, said the European Commission's spokeswoman for energy, Marlene Holzner, adding that distribution improved over the weekend.

In Italy, Germany and Romania, gas flows "are increasing although they are not really back to levels we had before last week," she told a news conference.

"There is no emergency in Europe so consumers get their gas ... as before," she added.

Gazprom, already dealing with a cold wave in Russia, said Saturday it could not pump additional gas to Western Europe, after EU officials and energy firms said the Russian giant's deliveries had dropped in the nine EU nations.

Italy's Economic Development Minister Corrado Passera said the situation was "critical" and Italian energy giant ENI warned that it could be forced to start cutting off supplies to corporate customers from Thursday.

Holzner said the commission is "ready to help" if Italy asks, but she added that the country is "very diversified" and could buy gas from other EU states or companies if necessary.