Brussels, 24/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 23 April, the Russian minister for energy said he hoped that “mutually acceptable constructive solutions” to the issue of the European Commission's grievances against Russian gas company Gazprom, as part of the European anti-trust investigation, “will be found without its politicisation” in the course of further consultations, in line with the arrangements of the EU-Russia partnership agreement that, he stresses, require the EU to take measures to settle the case through negotiations.
In a press release, the Russian minister criticises the fact that the Commission “unilaterally interrupted” the consultation process on the anti-trust investigation targeting Gazprom. The consultation process had been initiated in November 2013 by former Russian president Dmitri Medvedev and former European Commission president José Manuel Barroso, in accordance with Article 102 of the 1994 partnership and cooperation agreement between the EU and Russia.
In addition, the Russian minister says it is “regrettable” that the anti-trust investigation does not take into account the arguments of the Russian side, as the dialogue between the EU and Russia on energy was “unilaterally suspended” by the Commission as part of the wave of sanctions against Russia.
The Commission entered into direct confrontation with Gazprom for abuse of dominant position on the European gas market, on the basis of an investigation launched in 2012, addressing its grievances to the Russian state-owned gas group on Wednesday 22 April. The Commission criticises Gazprom for anti-competitive practices in eight Eastern European countries, which are all very dependent on Russian gas (see
EUROPE 11300). Gazprom will have 12 weeks (in other words until 15 July) to respond in writing or to ask for a hearing. Negotiation remains possible, but should there be continuing disagreement, Gazprom could be fined an amount equivalent to 10% of its turnover - in other words, €9 billion.
Asked to respond to the criticisms of Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, made on Thursday morning against the Commission's decision, the Commission reaffirmed that it was a competition case and not a political issue. “Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said very clearly (…) that all companies that do business on the European market must respect European law. The grievances were sent to Gazprom and not the Russian state. As far as we're concerned, it's a competition case and we're going to handle it as such”, the Commission stated on Thursday through its press service.
On Wednesday, Gazprom said the Commission's grievances were “unfounded”, saying that it hoped for “an acceptable solution at intergovernmental level”. (Emmanuel Hagry)