OREANDA-NEWS. Russian state-controlled Gazprom plans to hold two meetings with the European Commission before it files its formal response to a statement of objections over the Russian firm's alleged abuse of its dominant market position in central and eastern European gas markets.

The firm said it has spoken to EU competition commissioner Magrethe Vestager about some of the issues in a teleconference. Two more meetings will be held with Vestager's participation before Gazprom finalises its response, which is due within 12 weeks, the firm said.

Gazprom said today that it will respond to the accusations with "due arguments" and that it is "not to blame".

European officials have said privately that Gazprom has indicated that it is willing to find an agreeable solution to the anti-monopoly case, but that they expect it to defend its position as much as possible.

The commission has alleged that Gazprom is hindering competition in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia.

Gazprom is breaking EU anti-monopoly rules by pursuing a strategy of partitioning central and eastern European markets, Vestager said on 22 April after the commission sent the statement of objections.

"The business practices of Gazprom in the EU market, including the principles of gas pricing, are in full conformity with the standards observed by other producers and exporters of natural gas," Gazprom said on 22 April.

Meanwhile, Gazprom expects an average export price of \$242/'000m? (€20.49/MWh at the 29 April exchange rate) on its sales to Europe and Turkey this year, based on Brent prices at \$55/bl. Brent front-month futures climbed to about \$66.20/bl this afternoon. The firm's average export price to Europe and Turkey was \$289/'000m? (€24.24/MWh).