European Commission publishes criticisms of purchase of DESFA shares by SOCAR

The EU wants scrupulous studies of the deal on purchase of DESFA, the Greek gas pipeline operator, by the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). The deal would make Azerbaijan the sole provider of gas and owner of pipelines in Greece, which may violate the European laws on competition, the European Commission reports.

The European Commission needs to make the final decision on ratification of the documents on the purchase before March 23, 2015. Brussels welcomed the purchase a year ago.