Gazprom, EU Energy Chief Agree to Continue Dialogue in Antitrust Probe

Russian gas exporter Gazprom and EU Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete agreed Thursday to continue working together as part of EU’s antitrust inquiry into the energy giant, the company’s deputy head said.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The European Commission suspects Gazprom of abusing its dominant position in several Central and Eastern European gas markets. The European Union’s executive body has been in talks with the Russian company over its alleged monopolistic practices since the inquiry was launched in August 2012.

"We exchanged opinions on the anti-monopoly investigation and outlooks for our gas deliveries to Europe. We established contacts with Mr. Canete and his team and agreed to exchange information," Gazprom Deputy Chairman Alexander Medvedev told reporters after his meeting with Canete in Brussels.

On Wednesday, Medvedev met with EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. European Commission’s spokesman Ricardo Cardoso described their talks as open and constructive. They are expected to continue negotiations after the Easter Holiday in early April.

Last April, the European Union filed charges against Gazprom, accusing it of hindering competition and unfair pricing in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia. The company faces a fine of $7.6 billion.