Jan. 9 (Bloomberg) -- European Union monitors started arriving in Kiev as OAO Gazprom and Ukraine sought to settle a natural-gas pricing dispute that has affected shipments to at least 20 countries.

The first three monitors of a group of 22 arrived in the Ukrainian capital just before 5 p.m. local time, David Stulik, a spokesman for the European Commission delegation in Kiev, said by telephone. There’s no definite plan for the visit yet and its duration is unknown, he added.

Russia, Ukraine and the EU yesterday struck a deal on monitoring gas flows, paving the way for the resumption of deliveries to the 27-nation bloc. The EU said it’s “imperative” that shipments resume “without any further delay” after the three parties agreed on the details of the mission. The deal hasn’t yet been signed by all parties.

The monitoring team will consist of 18 experts from Europe’s main gas companies and four “high-ranking” European Commission officials, Stulik said. Among the first group was Filip Cornelis, assistant to the EU’s director-general of transport and energy, Matthias Ruete, he said.

E.ON AG, Germany’s biggest utility, is in charge of the technical side of the monitoring, Kai Krischnak, a spokesman for the company’s Essen-based gas unit, said today by phone. Germany is Russia’s biggest foreign gas customer.

RWE Transgas, the Czech Republic’s biggest gas trader, has already dispatched an observer to join the monitoring team, the company said in an e-mailed statement. Two representatives of OMV AG, Austria’s largest oil and gas company, will join the group.

GDF Suez, Eni

GDF Suez SA said it will send four Russian-speaking technicians, while Italian Industry Minister Claudio Scajola said representatives of Eni SpA will also join the monitoring team.

Russia earlier proposed that the mission should consist of 17 members, representing Russia, Ukraine, the European Commission, gas producers, purchasers, transporters and independent experts, according to a statement on Gazprom’s Web site. The companies listed include Gazprom, Naftogaz, GDF Suez, E.ON Ruhrgas AG, Wingas Transport GmbH, Eni, RWE Transgas and Slovensky Plynarensky Priemysel SP.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rob Verdonck in London at rverdonck@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: January 9, 2009 10:50 EST