European Commission attacks gas cartel; PetroChina increases investments; StatoilHydro announces another oil find

Iran seeks gas protections in case of war; U.S.-financed Peruvian pipeline to be built; EC wants swift action on Nabucco; Gazprom expects large capacity in East.

Dana Gas completes common user gas pipeline; Turkey, EU sign agreement on Trans-Caspian gas pipeline; Hungary sidesteps Nabucco criticism; India, Pakistan warm to Chinese role in Peace Pipeline

BAGHDAD, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- A top European Commission energy adviser is in Baghdad to discuss an Iraq-EU "strategic partnership," which the two sides announced earlier this month.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S.- and European Union-backed Nabucco pipeline, which has had little good news since it was first proposed, received a major boost last week when German utility RWE said it would join the project.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Iraq is looking outside its legal and security troubles to establish mutually beneficial energy ties with Europe.

Iran has emerged as an unlikely champion of Europeans concerned by their growing dependence on Russia, giving the Nabucco pipeline project a fillip.