Bloomberg: “Russian gas supplies to Europe will continue” – Bulletin of the Caucasus

April 22, 2015 under the antitrust investigation of “Gazprom” in the EU The European Commission has sent the Russian gas monopoly “notice of claim” is considered one of the procedural stages of the investigation. As the European Commission has put forward claims against “Gazprom” accusations that the price of Russian natural gas on long-term contracts are linked to oil prices, that “Gazprom” prohibits a virtual re-gas, as well as the fact that the price depends on the volume of supply – at low volumes of gas supply price may be lower than at a significant supply.

The American edition of Bloomberg Business writes that the European Union is largely dependent on Russian gas, has seen in the actions of “Gazprom” a violation of competition law. According to the official, who requested anonymity, the EU examines whether the company’s contracts unfairly set prices for oil and gas and prevent the sale of gas customers.
Based on its preliminary investigation, the Commission came to the conclusion that “Gazprom” implements the strategy of “decomposition gas markets in Central and Eastern Europe in order to maintain an unfair pricing policy in a number of EU Member States “, preventing cross-border sales of gas and exposing unfair prices.

” We look at whether clients the best price, or whether uses dominant company its considerable power to get different prices for different customers, “- said the European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager in an interview with Bloomberg TV in New York.

” None of this, according to experts, will not stop the flow of natural gas, but Gazprom is preparing for the worst “- according to Bloomberg. Russian gas supplies to Europe will continue, but “Gazprom” will be forced to deal with the more stringent EU competition rules, as well as plans to diversify, “- said Marco Julie, an analyst at the European Policy Centre.

In” Gazprom “Outstanding claims deemed unfounded. Russian Energy Ministry expects that the decision of the European Commission antitrust investigation in respect of “Gazprom” is reached during consultations without politicizing the issue.
Financial Times writes that “Gazprom” comes from the fact that this practice pricing used by other gas suppliers to the EU. “Gazprom” stated that he considers “strategic government-controlled entity” in Russia, and confirmed the position of the Kremlin. In Moscow, the EU charges regarded as “unfriendly act and an attempt to put pressure on Russia in its energy policy,” pointing to the “political nature” of the case, linking it to the EU’s efforts to put economic pressure on Russia because of the crisis in Ukraine.