Russia Challenges EU Energy Market Rules
Source: ABC News / AP
Russia has filed a complaint against the European Union's energy market laws claiming they violate international rules, the World Trade Organization said Thursday.
Among the stakes in the challenge to EU policy are how much control Russia's state-controlled gas company, Gazprom, will be able to exert over European pipelines and the degree to which Europe can diversify its supply lines.
Russia's case takes aim at the EU's so-called Third Energy Package, a bundle of laws that bans suppliers from owning transit facilities, such as pipelines. The laws took effect in September 2009 with the aim of opening up European gas and electricity markets.
In particular, the EU laws will affect the South Stream pipeline, in which Russia's Gazprom holds a 50 percent stake. The pipeline is due to provide gas from Russia to Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, Austria and Italy by running under the Black Sea and circumventing Ukraine. It is expected to ship up to 63 billion cubic meters of gas from 2018.
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/russia-challenges-eu-energy-market-rules-23545083
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