PGNiG contests cancellation of case over Gazprom's rules

WARSAW, Apr 14 (PRIME) -- Poland's PGNiG has appealed against a ruling of the E.U. General Court that turned down its claim against Gazprom's practices, the company said in a statement on Thursday.

"PGNiG has appealed against a ruling of the E.U. General Court dated February 2, 2022, which turned down a company claim against a ruling of the European Commission dated 2018, which accepted the obligations offered by Gazprom to finish the use of non-market practices in the E.U. states," the statement read.

The European Commission initiated an antimonopoly investigation against Gazprom in August 2012 and accused it of violating the E.U. competition rules in 2015. According to the authority, Gazprom restricted free supplies to the Eastern E.U. countries by splitting gas markets, preventing diversification of supplies and setting unfair prices.

In May 2018, the European Commission closed the antimonopoly case against Gazprom and set no fines, but obliged the company to ensure a free flow of gas at competitive prices in the Central and Eastern European gas markets. PGNiG filed a claim against the decision in October of the year.

At the same time, the court supported PGNiG’s 2017 appeal against European Commission’s dismissal of a complaint that Gazprom used natural gas supplies deficit that PGNiG suffered in 2009 and 2010 as a pretext to strengthen its grip on the Polish branch of the Yamal–Europe export pipeline.

PGNiG complained against the actions as part of the antimonopoly case against Gazprom, but the European Commission dismissed the complaint in 2019.

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