EU continues to insist on higher domestic energy prices in Russia

Fritz-Harald Wenig, Director for Trade Defence of the European Commission, has told RIA Novosti that the European Union is continuing to consider the issue of Russian energy suppliers' price formation policy as one of the most important ones affecting Russia's accession to the World Trade Organisation.

According to him, Russia's prices for energy exports were understandable, but "when the difference between export and domestic prices is huge" then this raises the problem of the probability of "Russian industry being subsidized." The EU believes that this issue is "highly important" for the favourable advancement of the negotiating process for Russia's entrance into the WTO, the European Commission representative said.

Russian representatives have announced that Russia is not intending to renounce its "natural competitive advantages," including the difference between export and domestic prices for energy suppliers.