EU energy boss says joint gas buying would have to be voluntary

The European Union's Energy commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, said on 2 February 2015 that member states would only be able to act as single gas buyer, as part of the efforts to reduce Russia's negotiating power, on a voluntary basis.

This statement was made after Poland's Donald Tusk put forward in 2014 the idea of EU countries working together to negotiate more favourable gas contracts with Russia's Gazprom, as you can check by clicking here.

During his visit to Warsaw, Mr Sefcovic said many west European countries were opposed to the idea of working as a single EU gas buyer because they believed it breached competition and free-market rules. The view was different in central and eastern Europe, where, he said, countries might be able to collaborate on a voluntary basis or in the event of a market failure or crisis.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Concept of Energy Union framework – introductory speech at ITRE meeting http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-concept-of-energy-union-framework-introductory-speech-at-itre-meeting/

ESO: Background information: Poland masterminds gas trading hub for Central Europe http://www.europeansources.info/record/poland-masterminds-gas-trading-hub-for-central-europe/

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