GENEVA

Following its drastic criticism of Austrian gas payments to Russia, the EU Commission has distanced itself from its representative in Vienna, Martin Selmayr.

"The Commission distances itself from the regrettable and inappropriate statements made by the head of the representative office in Austria," a statement issued Thursday evening by the EU agency's deputy chief spokeswoman Dana Spinant said.

It said the commission had asked Selmayr to "immediately report back to Brussels on the incident." Selmayr had also been cited for talks by the Austrian Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

"Mr. Selmayr was quoted to the Foreign Ministry for a discussion with the secretary general," a spokeswoman for Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told public broadcaster ORF on Friday.

The irritation was caused by statements Selmayr had made Wednesday at a discussion event at the Vienna Contemporary Art Fair.

"Oh my God, 55% of Austria's gas continues to come from Russia," Selmayr had said. Austria, he said, was thus financing Russian President Vladimir Putin's war.

He had added: "This amazes me, because blood money is sent to Russia every day with the gas bill." 

Selmayr said he understood the energy problems, but Austria was a rich country and, like other states, could do without Russian gas.

The Austrian government also criticized Selmayr's statements. Austrian Minister for Europe Karoline Edtstadler called them "unserious and counterproductive" and "completely one-sided." 

She added: "It is regrettable that apparently even an EU official seems to be unfamiliar with certain facts"

The minister pointed out that while Austria has demonstrably reduced its dependence on Russian gas and taken important precautions to ensure security of supply for the population, within the EU the volumes of Russian liquefied gas have increased by 40% compared to the same period last year.

The opposition, right-wing populist FPO reacted indignantly to Selmayr's statements. "The least we can do is that OVP Chancellor Nehammer demands that the Commission immediately dismiss Selmayr!" FPO Secretary General Michael Schnedlitz had said in a press release on Thursday.