The first international observers to oversee gas transit to Europe from Russia through Ukraine are on their way to Kiev, the European Commission said Friday.
"The monitoring task force, set up by the commission with the industry, is established and the first observers are traveling now to Kiev," the commission said in a statement.
"Both parties have to show their goodwill in order not to compromise further their reputation as reliable partners to the E.U.," it added.
Russia and Ukraine agreed to have a mission of international observers to monitor the flow of natural gas to Europe after a Russia-Ukraine dispute over price disrupted supplies to the European Union.
The E.U. was losing 30% of its gas imports because of the crisis, the commission said.