Commission invites comments on Gazprom commitments concerning Central and Eastern European gas markets

The European Commission invited 13 March 2017 comments from interested parties on commitments submitted by Gazprom to address competition concerns regarding gas markets in Central and Eastern Europe. The Commission considered these commitments to cover its concerns, facilitating cross-border gas flows at competitive prices.

The investigation undertaken by the Commission results from Gazprom's dominant position in a number of countries in the region. In April 2015, the Commission sent a Statement of Objections expressing its preliminary view that Gazprom had been breaking EU antitrust rules by pursuing an overall strategy to partition those gas markets. There had been indications that Russia would seek to solve the issue outside the courts.

• Primary Source

European Comission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/17/546, 13.03.17: Antitrust: Commission invites comments on Gazprom commitments concerning Central and Eastern European gas markets – Benefits for the Bulgarian gas market http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-546_en.htm

European Comission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/17/547: Antitrust: Commission invites comments on Gazprom commitments concerning Central and Eastern European gas markets – Benefits for the Polish gas market http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-547_en.htm

European Comission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/17/548: Antitrust: Commission invites comments on Gazprom commitments concerning Central and Eastern European gas markets – Benefits for the Slovak gas market http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-548_en.htm

European Comission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/17/549: Antitrust: Commission invites comments on Gazprom commitments concerning Central and Eastern European gas markets – Benefits for the Latvian gas market http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-549_en.htm

European Comission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/17/550: Antitrust: Commission invites comments on Gazprom commitments concerning Central and Eastern European gas markets – Benefits for the Lithuanian gas market http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-550_en.htm

European Comission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/17/552: Antitrust: Commission invites comments on Gazprom commitments concerning Central and Eastern European gas markets – Benefits for the Hungarian gas market http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-552_en.htm

European Comission: DG Communication: RAPID: Antitrust: Commission invites comments on Gazprom commitments concerning Central and Eastern European gas markets – Benefits for the Estonian gas market http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-553_en.htm

European Comission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/17/554: Antitrust: Commission invites comments on Gazprom commitments concerning Central and Eastern European gas markets – Benefits for the Czech gas market http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-554_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Antitrust on the ‘G string’: What’s behind the Commission’s investigations of Google and Gazprom? http://www.europeansources.info/record/antitrust-on-the-g-string-whats-behind-the-commissions-investigations-of-google-and-gazprom/

ESO: Background information: The EU’s prominent antitrust cases [What Think Tanks are thinking] http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eus-prominent-antitrust-cases-what-think-tanks-are-thinking/

EurActiv, 14.03.17: Commission leaning towards Nord Stream 2 approval http://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/eu-commission-leaning-towards-nord-stream-2-approval/

Politico, 13.03.17: Brussels brings Gazprom to heel, for now http://www.politico.eu/article/gazprom-vestager-commission-gas-deal-news-antitrust-poland-russia/

EUObserver, 13.03.17: EU and Gazprom closer to amicable deal https://euobserver.com/energy/137219

The New York Times, 13.03.17: Gazprom Makes Concessions in E.U. Gas Deal, but Trouble Looms for Russian Giant https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/13/business/eu-russia-gazprom.html

Euronews, 13.03.17: Russia's Gazprom pledges change to avoid EU fine http://www.euronews.com/2017/03/13/russia-s-gazprom-pledges-change-to-avoid-eu-fine

Deutsche Welle, 13.03.17: Gazprom makes concessions to settle EU antitrust probe http://dw.com/p/2Z78p

EurActiv, 13.03.17: EU-Gazprom deal clears Bulgaria of South Stream cancellation claims https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/eu-gazprom-deal-clears-bulgaria-of-south-stream-cancellation-claims/

TASS, 13.03.17: Gazprom to comply with EU norms to wrap up antimonopoly probe without fine http://tass.com/economy/935186

The Baltic Times, 13.03.17: EU Commission: Gazprom commits to ensure free flow of gas in Central, Eastern Europe http://www.baltictimes.com/eu_commission__gazprom_commits_to_ensure_free_flow_of_gas_in_central__eastern_europe/

EurActiv, 28.04.17: Bulgaria sees risks in Commission’s ‘entente’ with Gazprom http://www.euractiv.com/section/competition/news/bulgaria-sees-risks-in-commissions-entente-with-gazprom/

EurActiv, 30.05.17: EU, Gazprom buy time to settle gas antitrust case http://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/eu-gazprom-buy-time-to-settle-gas-antitrust-case/

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