WTO arbiters finish 1st hearing of Russia’s 3rd energy package suit

BRUSSELS, Sep 7 (PRIME) -- The arbiter group of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has finished the first hearing on the merits of Russia’s case regarding the third energy package introduced by the E.U., Marat Berdyev, technical permanent representative of Russia to the WTO, said late Tuesday.

“Of course, given standard WTO procedures, decision making will take some time and require additional efforts. But we aim at driving this dispute to a logical end and removing the unjustified barriers on the way of Russian companies in the E.U. with the help of WTO rights,” Berdyev said.

The third energy package bars fuel owners from possession of main pipelines in Europe. Russian gas giant Gazprom had to cancel its South Stream gas pipeline project due to these restrictions. Russia sent a claim to the WTO against the law in 2014.

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