EU gas storage facilities under Gazprom control

20.10.2021

Question for written answer  E-004781/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Kosma Złotowski (ECR)

Gazprom controls eight underground gas storage facilities in five European countries through its German subsidiary Gazprom Germania. This makes it easier for Russia to manipulate gas supply and influence its price in Europe.

In the light of the above:

• 1.What percentage of EU gas is kept in storage facilities controlled by Gazprom or other Russian companies?
• 2.Does the Commission not consider that gas storage facilities in the EU should be exclusively owned by entities from the European Economic Area, and does the current situation, in which a significant number of these facilities are under Gazprom’s control, not pose a credible threat to the Community’s energy security?
• 3.Does the Commission consider that Russia’s manipulation of gas supply as a means of obtaining economic and political benefits constitutes an abuse of its dominant position on the internal market? If so, how will the Commission address Gazprom’s actions, which are in violation of the EU Treaties, and prevent similar conduct in the future?