News

The European Commission has started formal investigation of Gazprom monopoly action. The probe includes three potentially anti-competitive practices in Central and Eastern Europe.

First of all Gazprom might possibly tried to break down the gas market while restricting the free flow of gas supply across EU territory. Also Russian energy giant could have hindered diversification of gas supply, and might have set unfair prices to customers while linking gas prices to oil prices.

Some time ago questions about Gazprom‘s monopolistic actions raised by Lithuania and possibly other market participants resulted in searches and seizures at Gazprom offices around Europe. Collected documents were analyzed. Having facts and evidence, the European Commission launched a legal investigation.

According to the Ministry of Energy this investigation is a clear demonstration of principled EU energy policy. Lithuania has always raised and still raises issues on possible Gazprom abuse of monopoly position at EU level.

Ministry of Energy launched a complaint to the European Commission regarding abuse of dominant position by the Russian gas supplier on January 25th 2011.

The Ministry requested the European Commission to impose a requirement on Gazprom to supply natural gas on the basis of transparent, reasonable and non-discriminatory conditions. The aim was to ensure that terms and conditions for supply of natural gas to Lithuania were determined solely by economic considerations.

"Unfair gas prices, economic and political pressure, anti-competitive actions. We have experienced all this only due to the fact that we were the first to make real actions towards implementation of EU's energy policy. For this we were punished with the highest gas prices in Europe. Therefore the investigation initiated by the European Commission suggest that our efforts will be helpful for the whole Europe to establish a transparent and efficient energy market ", - said the Minister of Energy Arvydas Sekmokas.