On Wednesday 30 March the European Commission carried out surprise inspections at the premises of Russian gas company Gazprom, in Germany, which it suspects of violating competition rules to drive up prices, according to EU sources.
Since last year Russia has been suspected of restricting the gas supply in Europe to cause a price spike, which has worsened since the launch of Russia’s offensive against Ukraine in late February.
In a press release the Commission states that it has carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of several German companies involved in the supply, transport and storage of natural gas.
The Commission “is concerned that the inspected companies may have violated EU competition rules that prohibit the abuse of a dominant position” (Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
European sources said that the investigations concerned premises of the Russian group Gazprom and its natural gas distribution subsidiary Wingas.
Unannounced inspections are a preliminary stage of the investigation. The duration of investigations depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of each case, the degree to which the companies concerned cooperate with the Commission and the exercise of the rights of defence.
Ukraine announced in December that it had filed a complaint against Gazprom with the Commission, accusing the gas giant of creating an artificial shortage of gas. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)