Polish gas company says agreement between European Commission and Gazprom has been suspended
The Polish national gas operator PGNiG said that the new agreement between the European Commission and the Russian company Gazprom on the use of the OPAL gas pipeline is suspended as of Tuesday, December 27th. This is due to the fact that the European Court in Luxembourg accepted the lawsuit, filed by PGNiG, against Brussels’ new treaty with Moscow. Thus, the new agreement will be frozen until a court in Luxembourg decides on the case.
The European Court of Justice has not yet commented on the situation, and the European Commission representative told Reuters that Brussels will note the court’s decision but is convinced their agreement with Gazprom is legal.
In late October, the European Commission allowed Gazprom to claim 7.7 billion to 10.2 billion cubic meters of gas pumping capacity to Europe in addition to their existing rights to use half of the capacity of the OPAL gas pipeline, which links the Nord Stream to the EU through Germany. According to that decision, 10% to 20% of the pipeline’s capacity should be reserved for other gas suppliers, but if no other supplier claims it, then Gazprom can apply for its use.
Warsaw criticized Brussels’ decision harshly, saying that it threatens the energy supply security in the Central and Eastern European countries. Increasing Gazprom’s share of the OPAL gas pipeline will allow the Russian company to deliver more gas to Europe, bypassing its traditional route through the territory of Ukraine.