In Serbia, Gazprom-owned refiner NIS has requested a 90 day postponement from the imposition of US sanctions, to find an acceptable solution to its ownership situation. The Serbian government has expressed strong support for this request, saying it it critically important for the country’s energy sector. Meanwhile, Serbia’s public debt-to-GDP ratio has narrowed slightly, to 47.4% at the end of December, compared to 48% a year earlier.