The EU Antitrust accuses Gazprom. What makes objection – Milano Finanza

After the European antitrust Google turns the headlights on Gazprom and return it to the sender accusations. The European Commission has sent a formal accusation to the Russian giant, claiming that some of its business practices in the gas markets of Central and Eastern Europe represent an abuse of dominant position contrary to EU rules on the matter.

Based on a preliminary investigation, the government concluded that Gazprom violates EU rules by applying a general strategy of separation of the gas markets of Central and Eastern Europe, for example by reducing the ability of its customers to resell the gas over the their borders.

This, according to Brussels, has allowed Gazprom to charge unfair prices in some EU countries. Yet. According to the preliminary investigation of the EU Commission, the group may have abused its dominant position by tying gas supplies obtaining separate undertakings by wholesalers on transport infrastructure of gas.

The EU commissioner competition, Margrethe Vestager, did his best to argue that the EU’s decision to open a formal investigation on Gazprom for abuse of dominant position is not political or linked to broader confrontation with Russia on Ukraine. Has indeed confirmed that his focus is on the technical issues of competition and that the talks on a possible solution will be by Gazprom and not with the leaders of the Kremlin.

“The gas,” said Margrethe Vestager, “is an essential commodity for our daily life: maintain fair competition on the European gas markets is of utmost importance. In our view, Gazprom may have erected artificial barriers that prevent the passage of gas from some countries of Central and Eastern Europe to other, thus hindering cross-border competition. ” If the concerns of Brussels will be confirmed, he added, “Gazprom will have to assume the legal consequences of his behavior.”

8 EU countries where Gazprom is the main if not the only supplier of gas: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia. “There is a market segmentation that allowed Gazprom to ask very high prices in some countries,” said the EU commissioner yet. In particular, “five countries have suffered unfair prices.” Moreover, again taking advantage of a dominant position, Gazprom asked commitments not directly related infrastructure for the transport of gas: “We have no evidence of this behavior illegal in Poland, for the Yamal pipeline, and in Bulgaria for South Stream. Now we give the possibility to companies to defend themselves. “

If convicted, the group could take a fine of up to $ 14.3 billion , or 10% of its turnover 2012, the year in which the match is officially the EU investigation. Now Gazprom has 12 weeks to respond to the formal communication of the EU Commission and may request to present its arguments.

However already got their hands on, claiming that they are “unfounded” allegations of abuse of position dominant that have been leveled. The Russian gas giant has in fact assured of “adhere strictly” to the current regulations and to act “in strict accordance with the standards observed” by the industry. In recent days, however, had threatened to “take a break” as a supplier of gas to Europe (in 2014 has met 27% of Europe’s gas needs). The move to Brussels is set to pick up again the tension between the European Union and Russia.