Russia may contest EU energy rules in WTO

MOSCOW, Nov 16 (Reuters): Russia, on the brink of joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO), is considering challenging EU energy regulations that would limit gas export monopoly Gazprom's control over its European pipeline assets, a government source said Wednesday. WTO ministers are expected to invite Russia to join the global trade rules body in December after 18 years of on-off talks but, even before receiving their assent, a first row looks to be brewing. Russia has expressed anger over European Union rules, known as the third energy package, that seek to liberalise the European gas market by forbidding suppliers from controlling the transport infrastructure used to deliver their gas. "We believe that this package violates our bilateral agreements with the EU," the official who spoke on condition of anonymity told Reuters. "We are now analysing whether WTO instruments can be used to protect our interests." "Politically for us the third energy package is a very unpleasant issue," the source said. Gazprom said Moscow was counting on the support of Germany to soften the resistance of Brussels to reforming energy market rules to exclude major pipelines such as the Nord Stream link that has just started operations. "I think common sense will prevail," Alexander Medvedev, head of Gazprom's export business, told Germany and Austrian newspapers in an interview published Wednesday. "The question of the third energy package must be resolved by October of next year, otherwise we will not be able to meet our commitments.