Moscow – Russian gas giant Gazprom said Wednesday unfounded accusations of abuse of dominant position formally launched by the European Commission, ensuring strict adherence to regulations and act in full compliance with the standards observed by the sector.
The head of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, for his part denounced unacceptable practices in the EU against Russia on the energy issue.
Gazprom considers the objections raised by the Commission European are unfounded, writes the public in a statement, noting that the European procedure is still ongoing.
Gazprom strictly adheres to all standards of international law and national laws of the countries where it does business , he continues. Gazprom’s practices in the European market, including the principles of pricing, are in full compliance with the standards observed by other producers and exporters of natural gas.
Gazprom hoped that his rights and interests (…) will be considered and that the EU will take into account the fact that the group is based outside the European jurisdiction and provides social functions related to its strategic business status.
The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, for his part, said in the evening expect a compromise between Gazprom and Brussels, but said that the Russian state was ready to defend the interests of the gas giant as its main shareholder.
We hope that compromise will be found (…) Such disputes should definitely be settled during negotiations, said Mr Peskov was quoted by Ria Novosti public agency.
Moscow relies on an impartial attitude towards the Gazprom group, he said.
The European Commission has formally submitted to Gazprom a statement of objections, following an investigation in Brussels in August 2012. The group has 12 weeks to respond and can request a hearing to present its case.
The EU notably accused of having erected artificial barriers routing Gas certain countries of Central and Eastern Europe to other cloisonné and gas markets in order to bill deemed unfair prices.
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that existing contracts between Gazprom and European countries were concluded in full compliance with the laws that were in force in the European Union.
He stressed that European legislation was then changed with the adoption of competition rules that Moscow denies long and that Brussels would apply to agreements signed earlier. This is absolutely unacceptable, he denounced.
gmo-mp / cj
(© AFP / April 22, 2015 7:52 p.m.)
(AFP / 22.04.2015 7:56 p.m.) ->
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