Brussels, 03/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is currently preparing a statement of objections to send to the Russian gas company, Gazprom, outlining its complaints concerning the latter's abuse of dominant position in Eastern Europe.
Speaking in Vilnius on Thursday 3 October, Commissioner Joaquim Almunia announced, “it would be premature to anticipate when the next steps might be taken, but we have now moved to the phase of preparing a statement of objections” in which the facts and practices used by Gazprom and criticised by the Commission, are illustrated in detail.
In September 2012, the Commission launched an investigation into Gazprom, which was suspected of carrying out anti-competitive practices and price manipulation in several central and eastern European countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia).
On Thursday, Almunia confirmed that, “any company active within our Single Market, irrespective of where it is based, must play by the rules. We suspect that Gazprom has been hindering the free flow of gas across member states and the diversification of sources of supply. We also suspect that it has imposed unfair prices on its customers”.
In mid-September, Almunia's colleague responsible for energy, Günther Oettinger, said that the results of this enquiry should be available for Spring 2014. The Commissioner provided assurances that this investigation was devoid of any political motives and urged Gazprom, “to accept and respect” European competition rules.The statement of objections does not determine the result of enquiry but it does enable the different parties involved to have access to the dossier and exercise their right of self-defence, explained the European Commission on Thursday.
In 2012, Gazprom's annual turnover was 4,760 billion roubles (€109 billion). Infringements to competition rules in the EU can theoretically be subject to a fine corresponding to 10% of the company in question's annual turnover. A Commission decision could therefore possibly lead to a fine of more than €10 billion being imposed on the Russian gas company. (EH/transl.fl)