European Commission decides to close proceedings in connection with the GFU system

With satisfaction, Mr. Einar Steensnæs, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, has taken note of the Commission's decision to close the proceedings it had initiated against gas producers on the Norwegian Continental Shelf in connection with the Gas Negotiating Committee (GFU) system.

The Ministry actively intervened in these proceedings in support of the gas producers as it was of the firm view that the GFU system was a state measure imposed on the producers by Norwegian law which was therefore outside the scope of the EU and EEA competition rules. In addition, the GFU system had been suspended for gas sales in the EEA as of 1 June 2001 and formally abolished as of 1 January 2002, not least because of developments in the European Gas Market.

The Minister of Petroleum and Energy considers it to be a positive development that the case has come to a close.