EU commission may take year to analyze documents of Gazprom subsidiaries

European Union regulatory bodies will need a year to analyze documents confiscated during raids at EU subsidiaries of gas giant Gazprom, Russian Deputy Energy Minister Anatoly Yanovsky said on Monday. "They said it would take them a year to analyze the documents confiscated from Gazprom subsidiaries," Yanovsky said, adding that he hoped that the European commission would act within the law. He reiterated that Russia and the European Union had several agreements on legal cooperation. "I hope that the EU will not commit any violations," Yanovsky said. Earlier in October the EU commission initiated inspections in companies active in the supply, pumping and storage of gas in several member states, including Gazprom subsidiaries and captive companies in Germany, Lithuania and the Czech Republic. It believes the companies might have been engaged in anticompetitive practices in breach of EU antitrust rules or had information relating to such practices. Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said on Monday that the ministry planned to discuss the inspections at Gazprom subsidiaries with the EU commission.