Brussels, 31/08/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 31 August, the European Commission announced its reservations concerning the draft gas agreement between Poland and Russia relating to extended provision of Russian gas. It questioned the conformity of the agreement with European rules. The Russian gas giant, Gazprom, and Polish PGNiG concluded, in January this year, a long term agreement on gas supplies and transit. The agreement has not, however, been endorsed by Warsaw, which awaits the Commission's opinion. The agreement above all provides extension until 2045 of a contract for the transport of Russian gas towards countries of western Europe crossing Poland through the Iamal-Europe gas pipeline. Doubts expressed by the Commission largely concern the EuRoPol Gaz company, which belongs to Gazprom and PGNiG, each of which hold 48% of the stakes. PGNiG manages the Polish section of the Iamal gas pipeline, which carries Siberian gas to Europe. “Our concerns are mainly about the gas pipeline. We want the guarantee that other gas operators cannot gain access to the gas pipeline and that tariffs for access are equitable”, explained a Commission spokesman, underlining the fact that the agreement must above all prove an advantage to Polish consumers. “We are looking at the contract. It must comply with EU legislation”, which requires such infrastructure to be managed independently and for outside operators that so request to gain access to it, the spokesman explained. He went on to conclude by saying: “We want to be certain that this is not a gas pipeline managed by just one or two operators”. The dossier will be discussed by the European commissioner for energy, Günther Oettinger, and the Polish minister of the economy, Waldemar Pawlak, on 6 September in Brussels. (E.H./transl.jl)