EU Antitrust Charges Open New Front Against Gazprom

The European Commission started the process of filing formal antitrust charges against Gazprom on April 22, over the Russian energy giant's practices in eight European countries. While the charges could eventually result in a hefty fine for the company, they will take several years to resolve. One important aspect to watch for will be changes in Gazprom's behavior in countries affected: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia.

More broadly, however, the legal challenge represents just another step in an ongoing process: Europe finding ways to further erode Grazprom's already-waning influence on the Continent. The case also highlights a more fundamental aspect of the Russia-Europe relationship in light of the crisis in Ukraine — the power of the Russian and Gazprom lobby in Brussels to impact the outcome of the charges — as well as the energy giant's diminishing influence at home.