Europe challenges Russian gas pricing

CNN/Money:

Brace yourselves for a gas war: Europe is going after Russia's mighty energy firm Gazprom.

The European Union has filed antitrust charges against the world's biggest gas producer. It is accusing Gazprom (GZPFY) of using its dominant position to manipulate prices and hinder the free flow of gas across the continent.

The bold move is likely to further sour Europe's relationship with Russia, already hurt badly by the crisis in Ukraine.

"Gas is an essential commodity in our daily life: it heats our homes, we use it for cooking and to produce electricity. Maintaining fair competition in European gas markets is therefore of utmost importance," said Europe's top anti-trust official, Margrethe Vestager.

Gazprom has rejected the claims, calling them unfounded. The company said in a statement to CNN that it wants to resolve the issue with an agreement between the Russian government and the EU.
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This is a lawfare approach to Russian bullying.  A better approach is alternative sources at fair prices.  The LNG exports from the US could give Europe a fairer price and also reduce the Russian economy at a time when it is acting in and expansionist mode in Ukraine and elsewhere.  Europe and the US would be better off and Russia would have less money to engage in aggression.