After restoring the economy, a top priority of Europe must be to achieve energy security, Czech Premier Mirek Topolanek told the European parliament Wednesday, according to dpa. To the backdrop of the Russian-Ukraine gas row which has disrupted supplies to western and south-eastern Europe, Topolanek called for measures to boost minimum strategic reserves of oil to 120 days, from the current 90 days. He also argued for new supply sources, saying in this connection "the construction of the Nabucco gas pipeline as well as the construction of new oil pipelines are of the highest priority." The reference to Nabucco is the proposed gas line from the Caspian Sea region via Turkey to Europe. Topolanek made the comment in presenting his government's aims for the six-month European Union presidency.
