They adopted a joint statement saying that Russia and the EU are mutually dependent on energy, and that the majority of problems arise from political disagreements.
Piebalgs told MPs in Strasbourg he intended to pressure Russia into ratifying the Energy Charter, adding he had received a letter from the Russian Industry and Energy Minister expressing hope that oil supplies along the Druzhba pipeline to Lithuania's Mazeikiu nafta refinery will be resumed in the near future.
Leaders of the 25-nation EU, increasingly concerned over energy security, are pushing for Russia to sign the Energy Charter, which would compel the country to open up its vast reserves and pipelines to European companies and to provide safeguards for investors.
EU officials have reportedly warned they will add the main clauses of the charter in the new PCA Treaty draft if Russia does not sign the energy document. Moscow has so far resisted, saying the agreement runs counter to its interests.
The European Union, which imports more than a quarter of its oil and natural gas from Russia via Ukrainian pipelines, faced a brief disruption last winter when Moscow suspended gas deliveries to Ukraine over a price dispute, sparking doubts over Russia's reliability as a supplier.
However, Russia, which has restricted European companies' access to its energy sector, insists that energy security works both ways, and wants Europe to offer purchase safeguards for its energy if it wants Russian producers to guarantee steady deliveries.
President Vladimir Putin, who met with EU leaders at an informal summit in the Finnish town of Lahti last October, assured them that Russia was a reliable energy supplier, but reiterated his refusal to sign the charter in its current form.
Last July, an oil spill on the western section of the Druzhba pipeline caused shipments to Mazeikiu nafta to be suspended.
Lithuania has accused Moscow of dragging its feet on the repair work, which is ongoing.
Russia's continued suspension of crude supplies to the refinery was seen by analysts as a punitive measure following the Lithuanian government's decision to sell it to PKN Orlen, rejecting Russian bids.
Poland is currently pressuring Russia to sign an international energy treaty entailing supply guarantees.
Russia's energy spats with Belarus and Ukraine have undermined its reputation as a reliable energy supplier and drawn accusations that it is using energy resources as a political lever.
