Prising Open Gazprom's Grip?

摘要

The EU/Gazprom competition case seems finally to be moving into a higher gear. Towards the end of last month, the European Competition Commission announced that it was formally laying antitrust complaints against Gazprom, relating to its market dominance of the gas supply markets of Central and Eastern Europe. It is accusing the Russian state-owned gas monopoly of abusing its position, illegally over-charging its customers and elbowing out potential competitors. The case could assume huge proportions. It is the largest competition case brought to date by the Commission against a corporation from outside the EU, and could eventually break open Gazprom's business model, at least in Europe. Coming as it does in the middle of the Ukraine crisis, it could also play a part in further escalating tensions between Russia and the West, which have already reached levels unknown since the Cold War.