Brussels, 18/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the chairman of the European Parliament's committee on foreign affairs, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski of Poland (EPP-ED), gave his full support to the direction taken by the proposal to be approved by the European Commission the next day on the creation of a mechanism to control third country capital access to the European energy sector (EUROPE 9498 and 9502). He requested that the Commission should verify whether the Russian giant, Gazprom, which is present on the European market through its stakes in energy companies, fully complies with the EU law on competition. “Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes should verify whether the activity of Gazprom on the European market (including supply contracts) is in line with the European Union's competition rules”, said Mr Saryusz-Wolski, adding that the Commission must take measures against practice aimed at gaining a dominant position. He stressed that the Commission should be just as strict towards Gazprom as it had been against Microsoft. (hb)