Ref. Ares(2020)2411544 - 07/05/2020
Cabinet of Commissioner Kadri SIMSON - Minutes of Meeting
MEETING CONCLUSIONS
Title
Meeting Cabinet Simson with Gazprom
Date
09012020
Participants
Ext: Director and Deputy Director of the Gazprom Representative office in Belgium
COM: Stefano Grassi, Head of Cabinet, Peeter Kadarik, deputy Head of Cabinet, Kitti
Nyitrai, Member of Cabinet
Ares initial request : (2019)7875297 - 7875423
Disclosure authorization : ☒ YES ☐ NO ☐ Partial
Issues raised
& follow-up
Gazprom (GP) asked for an introductory meeting, looking to establish constructive highlevel
contacts with the Commission.
GP:
x
Handed over congratulations for the appointment of the Commissioner and invitations
to upcoming event coorganised by the Russian Gas Society in April in Bergen.
x
Thanked the Commission for facilitating an agreement on gas transit between Russia
and Ukraine, seeing it as a positive sign for the overall RussiaUkraine relations.
x
Expressed satisfaction that the competition issues have been settled.
x
Regrets that the EURussia Energy Dialogue is frozen while seeing a need to discuss.
x
Regrets the annulment of the 2016 Commission decision on Opal by the General Court.
x
Highlighted that GP produces 500 bcm gas per year, with 200 going for exports. In this
context, it explained its vision for 2050 advocating for a reasonable approach,
technology neutrality allowing to substitute coal with gas to obtain quick emission
reductions and interest in hydrogen produced from methane.
The Commission representatives:
x
Appreciated that an agreement was reached to ensure safe gas supplies through
Ukraine for the coming years.
x
Explained that the reactivation of the Dialogue depends on broader political factors,
including implementation of the Minsk Agreement.
x
Referred to the new initiatives in the context of the European Green Deal, notably on
mineral methane emissions.