Russia's gas giant Gazprom and the European Union may find a common language before EU's legislation regulating relations in the energy sector come in force in March, Sergei Komlev, head of the contract structuring and pricing department of Gazprom Export, said on Friday.
"Although I do not think that our interests and those of Eurogas fully coincide, there are issues where we can join forces to adjust some provisions of the third energy package to minimize negative consequences for the Russian Federation and Gazprom," Komlev told a meeting of Russian Gas Society non-commercial partnership.
The European Union's third energy package orders the separation of gas sales and transportation businesses and requires provision of access for third parties to gas transportation facilities.
Gazprom, which supplies Europe with a quarter of gas it consumes and also extracts and pumps gas, strongly opposes the measure, saying it will deprive the gas transportation system of investment.
The third energy package will come in force in EU states on March 3.
Komlev said the enforcement of the legislation would mean revision of long-term contracts and endanger Gazprom's property rights for its transportation system in Europe.
MOSCOW, February 11 (RIA Novosti)
