European Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia has denied that the European Union's current antitrust inquiry into the European activities of Russia's Gazprom is related to the issue of Crimea's secession from Ukraine and incorporation into Russia.
Energy security and energy price concerns emerged in the EU before the Ukrainian crisis though the latter and Crimea’s secession from Ukraine and incorporation into Russia have increased them, Almunia told a news conference in Brussels.
He cited officials as telling EU counterparts two years ago that Gazprom’s presence in Europe was a matter of strategic importance for Russia. The EU replied it would go ahead with an investigation based on its own principles and criteria, Almunia said.
He said the same held true today, and that antitrust concerns were the only reason for the probe.
Almunia did not answer when asked when a potential suit from the European Commission against Gazprom was to be expected, but confirmed that the commission was preparing a suit.
