Commission opens antitrust case against Gazprom

Series Title
Series Details 5.9.12
Publication Date 05/09/2012
Content Type

The European Commission opened formal proceedings on the 4 September 2012 to investigate whether Gazprom, the Russian producer and supplier of natural gas, might be hindering competition in Central and Eastern European gas markets, in breach of EU antitrust rules.

The Commission had concerns that Gazprom might be abusing its dominant market position in upstream gas supply markets in Central and Eastern European Member States, in breach of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

The Commission's investigation would involve Gazprom's activities in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia.

Gazprom responded by saying it 'scrupulously abides by all the provisions of international law' and that its EU activities were 'in full conformity with legal standards'.

EUObserver reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin passed a decree on the 11 September 2012 blocking Gazprom from normal co-operation with European Commission competition authorities.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/energy/commission-opens-antitrust-case-news-514613
Related Links
European Commission: RAPID: Press Release, IP/12/937: Antitrust: Commission opens proceedings against Gazprom http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/937&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
EUObserver, 5.9.12: EU officials take on Gazprom, Putin in price-gouge probe http://euobserver.com/economic/117438
BBC News, 4.9.12: Gazprom faces EU anti-competition probe http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19482312
ESO: Background information: Gazprom raided in EU antitrust investigation http://www.europeansources.info/record/gazprom-raided-in-eu-antitrust-investigation/
Deutsche Welle, 4.9.12: EU opens anti-trust case against Gazprom http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16219875,00.html
RIA Novosti, 4.9.12: EU Opens Antitrust Probe Against Gazprom http://en.rian.ru/world/20120904/175769697.html
Financial Times Deutschland / Adevărul, 5.9.12: Brussels hits out at Gazprom (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/2640431-brussels-hits-out-gazprom
EUObserver, 5.9.12: First signs of tension after EU move on Gazprom http://euobserver.com/economic/117441
EurActiv, 6.9.12: Lithuania steps forward as whistleblower in Gazprom row http://www.euractiv.com/energy/lithuania-steps-forward-gazprom-news-514650
EUObserver, 7.9.12: Kremlin backs its dog in EU-Gazprom fight http://euobserver.com/economic/117474
EurActiv, 12.9.12: Large countries oppose EU Gazprom deals scrutiny http://www.euractiv.com/energy/largest-eu-countries-oppose-gazp-news-514739
EUObserver, 12.9.12: Putin says 'Niet' to EU anti-trust lawyers http://euobserver.com/foreign/117515
BBC News, 12.9.12: Putin signs decree 'to protect' Gazprom http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19559194

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