THEEuropean antitrust has opened ainvestigation against Gazprom for alleged abuse of a dominant position in the gas market in Eastern and Central Europe. This was reported in a note from the EU Commission, which states that the Russian energy giant "could abuse its dominant position in the gas market".
There are three investigative hypotheses of the Authority:
1) Gazprom may have partitioned gas markets to hamper the flow of supplies through member countries.
2) The group is suspected of having opposed the European diversification of gas supplies.
3) The Russian giant may finally have tied the price of gas to that of oil in order to drive up prices.
Un behavior that, underlines the European Commission, “may constitute a restriction of competition and lead to higher prices and deterioration of security of supply”.
In September, the Antitrust had ordered a series of surprise investigations in the main offices of various gas companies in various countries. The European decision is destined to have a strong political impact, considering Europe's dependence on Russian gas and the production and commercial strategies of the energy companies of the EU countries (starting with ENI).
Gazprom did not want to comment on the news. "Let them investigate," a spokesman said.
