Commission imposes binding obligations on Gazprom to enable free flow of gas at competitive prices in Central and Eastern European gas markets

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Series Details 24.05.18
Publication Date 24/05/2018
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Summary:

The European Commission announced on 24 May 2018 the imposition on Gazprom a set of obligations that address competition concerns and enable the free flow of gas at competitive prices in Central and Eastern European gas markets.

Further information:

Gazprom is the dominant gas supplier in a number of Centreal and Eastern European countries. In April 2015, the Commission sent the company a Statement of Objections, in which it set out the preliminary view that the company breached EU antitrust rules by pursuing an overaal strategy to partition gas markets along national borders in eight EU Member States.

The set of rules imposed by the European Commission should bring that behaviour to an end, thus making them legally binding. If the company was to break any of these obligations, the Commission could impose a fine of up to 10% of the company's worldwide turnover. These obligations on Gazprom were to be in place for eight years.

The obligations reflect feedback from stakeholders in a market test, which the Commission launched in March 2017 on an earlier version of the proposal. This market test resulted in a significant number of replies from a wide range of stakeholders.

Source Link http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-3921_en.htm
Related Links
Politico, 24.05.18: Gazprom escapes EU fine in competition probe https://www.politico.eu/article/gazprom-escapes-eu-fine-competition-probe/
EurActiv, 16.05.18: Commission to announce peace deal with Gazprom by next week https://www.euractiv.com/section/competition/news/commission-to-announce-peace-deal-with-gazprom-by-next-week/
Reuters, 24.05.18: Gazprom in EU antitrust deal with concessions, no fine https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-gazprom-antitrust/gazprom-in-eu-antitrust-deal-with-concessions-no-fine-idUSKCN1IP1IV
EurActiv, 24.05.18: As expected, Vestager lets Gazprom off the hook https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/as-expected-vestager-lets-gazprom-off-the-hook/
ERR News, 29.05.18: Estonia should claim Gazprom damages says Reform Party leader https://news.err.ee/835393/estonia-should-claim-gazprom-damages-says-reform-party-leader
European Commission: Statement by Commissioner Vestager on Commission decision imposing binding obligations on Gazprom to enable free flow of gas at competitive prices http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-18-3928_en.htm

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