Austrian Federal Minister for the Economy and Labour Martin Bartenstein, European Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs and Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, in a joint statement, welcomed "the fact that the appeals from the EU to the Parties to settle their dispute have had a swift and positive response." "The EU welcomes that the Parties have taken account of the importance placed by the Union on the maintenance of their role as secure long-term suppliers of natural gas to the EU," noted the statement. Austria now holds the current EU Presidency. Bartenstein and Piebalgs will hold a joint press conference in Brussels later today. Meanwhile, an EU gas experts group is meeting in Brussels Wednesday to examine the situation. PIN/IRNA