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EU Launches Antirust Case Against Natural Gas Giant Gazpromia
When it comes to who controls Europe, the answer is simple - hint: it is not Goldman Sachs via its puppets Mario Monti or Mario Draghi. Nor is it Angela Merkel. No - the entity in charge of the continent of 300+ million is the nation-corporation known as Gazpromia, which also happens to be is the holding company of the new and somewhat improved USSR, aka Russia. Why? Because if Gazpromia decided to play the vengeful god role it is known to embrace now and then, it could simply shut down the gas pipeline to Europe and millions of people would realize that heating in deep subzero temperatures is far, far more important than having a (un)stable currency or wheelbarrows full of money. As such, it is always better to let sleeping gods lie. Oddly enough, Europe decided to not do that, and moments ago the WSJ and BBG reported that the EU has decided to bite the hand that warms it and has launched an antrust case against Gazprom.
- EU OPENS ANTITRUST CASE AGAINST GAZPROM
- GAZPROM SUSPECTED BY EU OF HINDERING COMPETITION IN GAS MARKETS
- GAZPROM MAY BE ABUSING DOMINANCE IN UPSTREAM GAS SUPPLY MARKETS
- GAZPROM MAY HAVE PREVENTED GAS SUPPLY DIVERSIFICATION, EU SAYS
- GAZPROM MAY HAVE UNFAIRLY LINKED PRICE OF GAS TO OIL PRICES
Did Gazprom do any/all of this? Of course: monopolists can do anything they want. Keyword being monopolists. As a result those whose markets Gazprom supplied with all critical natural gas, which in Europe is everyone, must take it like it, or else. Because when it comes to threats, whereas Mario Draghi's are absolutely hollow, and are merely perfected in the Goldman Sachs school of "what to do when you are not being taken seriously" (as practiced by that other Goldmanite Hank Paulson in the US 4 years ago), those from Gazprom, should the company decided to retaliate will mean the European winter will be not only depressionary, but very, very cold. And Europe may have just made sure of not only the former, but also the latter.
From that other monpoly, this time of infinite central planning complexity and endless bureacuracy - the EU
Antitrust: Commission opens proceedings against Gazprom
The European Commission has opened formal proceedings to investigate whether Gazprom, the Russian producer and supplier of natural gas, might be hindering competition in Central and Eastern European gas markets, in breach of EU antitrust rules. An opening of proceedings does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation; it only means that the Commission will treat the case as a matter of priority.
The Commission has concerns that Gazprom may be abusing its dominant market position in upstream gas supply markets in Central and Eastern European Member States, in breach of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The Commission is investigating three suspected anti-competitive practices in Central and Eastern Europe. First, Gazprom may have divided gas markets by hindering the free flow of gas across Member States. Second, Gazprom may have prevented the diversification of supply of gas. Finally, Gazprom may have imposed unfair prices on its customers by linking the price of gas to oil prices.
Such behaviour, if established, may constitute a restriction of competition and lead to higher prices and deterioration of security of supply. Ultimately, such behaviour would harm EU consumers.
In September 2011, the Commission carried out inspections at the premises of gas companies in several Member States (see MEMO/11/641).
Background
Article 102 TFEU prohibits the abuse of a dominant position which may affect trade between Member States. The implementation of this provision is defined in the Antitrust Regulation (Council Regulation No 1/2003), which can be applied by the Commission and by the national competition authorities of EU Member States.
Article 11(6) of the Antitrust Regulation provides that the initiation of proceedings by the Commission relieves the competition authorities of the Member States of their competence to also apply EU competition rules to the practices concerned. Article 16(1) of the same Regulation provides that national courts must avoid giving decisions which would conflict with a decision contemplated by the Commission in proceedings it has initiated.
The Commission has informed Gazprom and the competition authorities of the Member States that it has opened proceedings in this case.
There is no legal deadline to complete inquiries into anti-competitive conduct. The duration of an antitrust investigation depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of the case, the extent to which the undertaking concerned cooperates with the Commission and the exercise of the rights of defence.
More information on this investigation will be available in the Commission's public case register under the case number 39816.
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"gazprom may have unfairly linked gas to oil prices" ROFL - that was common practice long before gazprom. Not satisfied with gazprom? Get lost.
Either that or beaver hats.
Don't the Russians produce those too ?
some of the most beautiful beaver in the world is russian- it's those high slavic cheekbones
In standard Russian reverse-beaver position, view of cheekbones not obstructed.
It'll soon be cheaper to warm up by burning loads of worthless hyperinflated reich-euros in steel barrels on the streets of berlin while dancing to hit tunes from "Die Antwoord".
Nazi germany selling U-boats to radical islamists:
http://euobserver.com/tickers/117413
Israel should really consider air raids over europe instead of Iran.
everything you talked about is assinine. it's OK for the Israelis to be armed to the teeth with stuff like german u-boats bought with US "foreign aid"-but somebody else wants to buy some of the newest hardware and it's the end of the world. the Israelis scream every time somebody around them is armed with anything more than a slingshot-and even one of those will get you killed by the IDF. way to line jump with your yid/AIPAC propaganda. crawl back in your hole Zionist. German-Israeli relations-what a laugh- it's all based on German guilt and the younger German generations are leaving that hairshirt behind
Right. Let's give the arabs back their land, and give the jews back their 1.7% of Germany and Eastern Europe.
It is ironic that the Arab lands were given to create Israel out of guilt over a European attempt at genocide.
I hear war drums here.
Russia will be forced to cut the supply. And then Europe will be free to achieve its goal of muppet culling.
"free to achieve its goal"
..and forced to burn its coal, Merkel baby there's coal outside
So it didn't take long for Germany's decision to shut off all nukes to show consequences.
Better get this done before the snow starts.
Not to worry, they got solar panels & windmills, they'll be fine ;-)
Where are U.S. windmills?
3 Coal-Powered W. V. Plants to Shut Down
"Nearly $2 billion in money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been spent on wind power, funding the creation of enough new wind farms to power 2.4 million homes over the past year. But the study found that nearly 80 percent of that money has gone to foreign manufacturers of wind turbines.
So Where Are the Jobs?"Most of the jobs are going overseas," said Russ Choma at the Investigative Reporting Workshop. He analyzed which foreign firms had accepted the most stimulus money. "According to our estimates, about 6,000 jobs have been created overseas, and maybe a couple hundred have been created in the U.S."
Well he did say he was gonna "spread the wealth around"...everyone kinda though he meant here...lol.
////////////////////////////////////////////
Here's one concerning Europe to Zero Debt's point above...
After the tsunami destroyed the Fukushima plants, Germany moved quickly to shut eight nuclear power plants, and made plans do away completely with their nuclear capability. Despite the best safety record of any industry in the country, and the critical role nuclear plays in fueling German industry, Germany’s past experience with large tsunamis was just too horrific to ignore. (my lol here) And Germany’s strong economy and commitment to protect the environment were small prices to pay for Chancellor Merkel to shore up her weak coalition with the Free Democrats. Maybe she can ask Greece for help later.
Germany is building a fleet of new coal-fired power plants to replace their shuttered nuclear fleet, reversing their downward trend in carbon emissions and pollutants. Source: Parys Ryszard/Shutterstock
But don’t worry. Germany is building about 25 clean coal-fired power plants to offset the loss of nuclear and address Germany’s admittedly “unaffordably expensive and unreliable” renewable portfolio (Der Spiegel). The German Green Party can now celebrate the opening of a 2,200 MW coal-fired power plant near Cologne. It started spewing out its annual, relatively clean, 13 million tons of CO2, and other nasties, so much lower than those older dirty coal plants that would have put out 15 million tons of CO2 for the same power output."
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2012/08/31/germany-insane-or-just-plain-stupid/
There is no way to store nuclear waste safely. The safety record of nuclear power cannot be assessed until the waste is safe, say about 24,000 years (oops, that's just the half life...).
"Not to worry, they got solar panels & windmills, they'll be fine ;-)"
And an endless supply of unicorn farts.
Prediction - a rapid 'guilty' verdict, followed by a 20% or so tarriff placed on gas imported from Russia....and immediately passed on to the consumer.
Luckily for EU citizens, it's to protect them from the monopolists and isn't really just a 20% energy tax.
In the Peoples' Republic of Massachusetts we are bombarded daily with the world is going to end if we don't go green energy. However when a company proposed to build a wind farm offshore on Cape Cod, the "do as we say not as we do" liberals have fought it tooth and nail because it is going to ruin their view, cause birds to die by flying into the blades, and cause sea creatures to die by swimming into the foundations. Of course if the world is really going to end due to global warming, I don't think anyone would worry about the view or the birds or the fish because every living thing would be dead. Which is why the whole thing is a bunch of crap.
I'm for doing things better but it needs to actually work. I think tidal energy is a better idea than wind energy but then you are screwing up someone's beach.
There is a liiitle problem with the fluctuating output but surely the masters of EU will fix that..
chart from Der Spiegel, wind and solar:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/bild-852815-389683.html
All about the German Energy Revolution - easy-peacy!
Dont wanna post all th links but here's some headers:
Polish Nuclear Dreams Threaten Ties with Germany
Berlin Struggles to Realize Nuclear-Free Ambitions
Rising Energy Prices Endanger German Industry
'Green' Transport Idea Is Expensive Folly
Germans Cough Up for Solar Subsidies
'We Can't Allow Electricity to Become a Luxury'
German and Chinese Solar Firms Battle for Survival
Germany Stalled on the Expressway to a Green Future
Eastern Germany Hit Hard by Decline of Solar
Bankruptcies Have German Solar on the Ropes
Germany Created Own Threat with Chinese Solar Aid
Environment Minister Retreats on Solar Subsidies
Solar Energy Row Is an 'Undignified Spectacle'
Solar Subsidy 'Insanity' Will Cost Consumers
Re-Evaluating Germany's Blind Faith in the Sun
German Switch to Renewables Likely to Be Expensive
Will High Costs Kill Merkel's Green Revolution?
Solar Industry Fights to Save Subsidies
How Effective Are Renewables, Really?
http://www.spiegel.de/international/topic/german_energy_revolution/
i think this would be about Syria, myself
fuk wid da bidniss:
EU: we'll break up your pipelines and tax and regulate you to death! down w/ assad!
rooskieBear: nyet! nyet! you shit-headed toy-boys are so whipped that when somebody can fight back and you hafta sit down and negotiate you resort to this to get an extra seat at the table?
when we shut it off will you take us to the ICC? huh?
n.y.e.t.
p.s. :> fuk you, comrade euro-BiCheZ!
Uh - 200m fine to pay for the EU belgium catering budget and all will be well.
Oh, you meant this cutoff valve?
Hilarious video from Russian television, with English translation ...
Russians singing and laughing about the dependence of Europeans on Russian gas ... they turn the cutoff valve on stage while the Russians are singing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7RD5ONjv8M
I think I like the James Brown version better. But I dig the MC ... nothing says "Russian formality" better than a red Adidas-knockoff jumpsuit.
Nice video. What's taking the Russians so long to close the spigot? Maybe starting a petition online asking Russia to once and for all leave genocide NATO members without gas will help.
http://euobserver.com/tickers/117408
http://www.thelocal.fr/page/view/top-french-cop-trafficked-drugs---claims
Gas song bitchez...
this may be more of the 'cutoff valve' they were thinking of...
Russian loan to Cyprus not yet approved
...and tomorrow a leaked LNG contract with Qatar ?
The idiocy never ceases to amaze me. If I didn't know any better I would think they were doing this all on purpose...if I didn't know better.
Have to generate the hate somehow. What better way than to start a "war" with a nationalized corporation that supplies LNG to all of Europe? It can only go down from there.
WTF was the EU thinking when the sole source a basic , required, commodity like heating fuel? YOU DO KNOW BETTER.
There won't be a war, they'll just cut the gas off again. Politicians looking for someone to blame. It will be a cold day in hell I mean Europe.
"When it comes to who controls Europe, the answer question is simple -"
Who runs Bartertown?
Master Blaster Draghi runs Bartertown.
I see bribes. Many bribes in the future.
Another round bartender, put it on Marios tab!!!
(hiccup)
Just inject it into my IV barkeep. Saves wear and tear on my stomach.
I actually thought about that once after a surgery...but I didn't think alcohol would be the same as dilaudid.
Man, I love dilaudid, I had to cut myself off ;-)
The GOOD stuff! What....me worry? Not while on the juice.
Sadly that sounds like bankster talk to me. :>)
lol...reminded me of my "yout".
Just wait till I retire, I'll grow my hair back out and become completely irresponsible again (sorta) ;-)
be careful, n_n!
back hair might turn him on!
Yeah Europe really believes it has lots of 'softpower'.
Europe needs Russia but Russia does not need Europe.
Good luck making through the winter EU. Maybe you can make special stoves for burning hyperinflated euro's?
When a country has economic problems, it frequently starts a war and blames all economic difficulties on the war. The plan may be to escallate this conflict.
LOL
EU go to war with Russia?
Good fucking luck.
The Belgians have more barbers than front line troops, not a single one of the Eu member armies can get down the street to Mc Vichyssoise without third party transportation and the even the French (No Less!) had to be resupplied with air munitions (bombs) from US stockpiles on the third day of Kinetic Action in Libya.
Fucking Joke.
Then again, if the Russkies don't relent and reprice the gas more competitively, Russia will be drawn into the EU and in retaliation stop vacationing in Europe!
Now that's a really scary kids!
It'd be a helluva thing if Russia invaded and found everyone gone on vacation wouldn't it?...lol.
they are having a little "proxzky war" in/over syria, are they not, k-nuk?
but that is not "economic" except to the zionistas
this could just stay "about the natGas" b/c the dance is already afoot; sabre-rattling, lying, and commandos (i got brits, but not f sure) blowing up the TV station and assassinating those there, huge need for body-bags for people who are getting slaughtered b/c of countries like saudiArabia pretending to need to get involved for reasons of "religious righteousness"
what the hell, k_nuk, if the christians and jews can rock'N'roll while in deep contemplation of the aseity, the dominant is-lam-ic pietism can git down and boogie too, right?
sschleppo in aleppo
rat-a-tat-tat
Grift wars?
Talk about a paper dragon !!!
Reading this article makes me laugh. I had an indirect deal with Gazprom a few years back. Six month's into a contract with our dear russian friends they stopped supplying. Following a meeting in Moscow and several heated phone calls the contract would be fulfilled but I had to pay an extra $12 / tonne. Guess what,. it was non-negotiable. I paid the extra
So to hear these muppets adopting this approach...good luck
Leave it to a Gubamint to figger shit out that makes all the Sense in the World.
Seriously...
What could go wrong?
Of course it would be racist if they went against NiGaz. (that's an old ZH joke)
dating yourself there ...
I remember that post. Hilarious.
It is amazing what people will agree to when they are FREEZING THEIR ASSES OFF.
Yeah, take advantage of the heatwave while you can.
a little WD-40 should do it
Well Europe can just turn to the free, global market for energy. That's will fix those filthy Russians!!
If only it were true that Putin had the power to control the banks. Then our long tortured nightmare would be over. The Fed could be moved aside and the Russkies finally would control the world and Paradise could be re-invented because Cold War gridlock would have returned.
But, alas, the last time we looked, Europe was in lockdown in the throes of the loan sharks.
When the debt leverage moves into the hundreds of trillions and most of the Western World’s politicians belong to the sharks, then the energy titans like the Saudis and the gas and pipeline providers may still be in the game, but it’s a stretch to say they are in control.
The "energy titans" will eventually re-assert control by refusing to accept payment in government-issued fiat currency. It is only a matter of time until one of them says "Settlement from now on in Gold only" and all the others will follow. It is not a matter of "if", only a matter of "when". And it won't be long.
A very good point. But don’t forget the old axiom that who holds the gun gives the instructions. And, at the moment, the United States Marines, the U.S. Air Force, the aircraft carrier groups, the Special Ops, and the CIA are under the exclusive control of a puppet Pentagon working closely with the Israeli nuclear-armed Air Force, all now being advised and directed and financed by the NY Federal Reserve Bank. So when the “energy titans” start their move down the chessboard headed for the banking king and queen, it will be interesting to see who makes the next move. :-)
Absolutely true. US/Israeli military hegemony is the only thing keeping the petro-dollar alive right now. But its days are numbered. How many digits in that number, no one knows.
LOL, you said the EU launched an "antirust" case. Well, it is a good thing in Russia to have antirust. But I think it's an antitrust case. Plus later on in the lede paragraph you called it an "antrust" case.
Oh well... maybe we need more Tylers working less hard.
Fuck you Europe.
Love,
Putin
Big guns and commodities... Not the dream cocktail for 'Americans'
It makes it hard to run their 'American' business of extorting the weak, farming the poor.
Still angry about Napoleon and Hitler.
And what if Gazprom retaliates by saying "We no longer accept Euros or Dollars as payment. All settlement to be done in Gold only"? Now that would be a big, black swan.
300+ Million eh? That is a BIG plus. The population of the EU is~850 million freezing souls.
Wikipedia claims 500 million.
And it's not even Friday.
The "genius" of Europe shutting down its nuclear power generating capacity exposed.
Only Germany, and they simply out sourced it to France and Czech in order to feel fresh and green.
Russia to EU:
??????? ???? ????!
(Go fuck yourself!)
Dot number 1. Obama warns Syria on WMD use. U.S. red line.
Dot number 2. Syria says will use WMD on outsiders.
Dot number 3. Biden accusses Romney of wanting war in Syria. Earth to Joe, the CIA started the war 17 months ago.
Dot number 4. France, faux cover for U.S. special ops, threatens blistering response in WMD used. Blistering as in nerve agents
Dot number 5. False flag detonation of WMD in Syria by U.S. special ops prior to election.
Dot number 6. Barry starts some kinetic action in Syria cementing his second term
Dot number 7. With Syria tied up, Israel launches strike against Iran first dark moon after the Nov. 7 election.
Absolut chaos after that
Only nuclear weapons are "WMD." Nerve gas & such are classified as "unconventional weapons." This fuzzy usage was dreamt up by Baby bush and Darth Cheney and that crowd of lunatics.
But your points are well worth considering.
They better be prepared to get those wool blankets out! Gazprom has no problems with turning off the pipe faucet.
HAHAHA! Boy does the EU have a thing or two to learn about trying to extort from Russians. Case in point, Stalin murdered many times over the number of Jews as did Hitler. So why don't the Jews go after Russia for reparations money? I'll tell you why: Because the Russians would tell them to go phuk themselves. And that will be the response to any "court" who tries to tell them they have a monopoly on NG. Wait until around late December, early January and them close the tap. Watch how fast they drop the matter.
If this is how your analytic processes function, we now know that you can be safely ignored.....
Well...he is after all...TheObsoleteMan
My day is ruined. Flakmeister is ignoring me, BOO phuking HOO!
Wait, are they saying there isn't a link between gas & oil prices? Or gas & coal prioces, or gas & hydro electric prices or gas & nuclear prices?
Imagine the horror of Russia pricing gas in gold, imagine the horror of barter, you know goods of equal value trading for goods of equal value with no state "cut" for fiat currency.
and little`ole iran has just about the same equivalent of natgas holdings as does gasprov:
they said it would never happen?... well guess what, it has, and with the blessing of pakistan [baluchistan no-man's province?] --- what's ironic is the chinese/pak's & russian/indi's seem to be in agreement for fucking over their paternal landlords once and for all...
ref: http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/World+News/Asia/Afghanistan/TAPI~IPI+Pipelines
http://www.tribune.com.pk/story/427544/ipi-pipeline-iran-may-ask-india-t...
What goes around comes around?... and what the fuck is up with those 'Red Lines'!
It will date me, but when the offer to run pipelines from Russia to western Europe was first proposed in the mid-80's, US intelligence gave all these warnings about how the Russians would use their energy leverage over Europe. The European response was that it would never happen.
From world conquerors to energy slaves, less than a century. Can't happen too soon.
I guess the Europeasants will be back on Good King Wenceslas' land gathering winter fuel (sticks & twigs) for Christmas.
Isn't this the outfit run by the former German Chancellor?
Whichever way you look at it, the Russians have profited hugely by Iran being sent to the dog-house. Besides the oil price being pushed up - which is hugely favourable to Russia - the second biggest source of natural gas in the world (Iran) is locked up underground.
Putin must be laughing all the way to the bank. :)
Tyler says "Roll Over and Die Bitchez".
I say 1 out of 5 to this Tyler article. What a crappy attitude to take.