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EU companies may be able to circumvent Russia's demands for gas payments in rubles without violating sanctions if they pay in euros or dollars, which are then converted into Russian currency, the commission said on Friday. p>
Companies should also seek additional trading conditions, such as a statement that they consider their contractual obligations fulfilled once they deposit money in non-Russian currencies.
Moscow has warned Europe that risks seeing gas supplies cut, unless he pays in rubles . A decree was issued in March proposing that energy buyers open accounts with Gazprombank to make payments in euros or dollars, which would then be converted into rubles.
The commission said earlier in the month that the decree contained the risk of breach of EU sanctions, since would put the completion of the market – after the conversion of payments into rubles – in the hands of the Russian authorities.
In an advisory document sent to member countries on Thursday, however, the Commission He said the Moscow proposal did not necessarily prevent a payment process from complying with EU sanctions on Russia over Ukraine.
The Commission's recommendations are not legally binding, but One direction is the debate, as member states consider how they can continue to pay for Russian gas.
Brussels says in the document that there are options that would allow companies to continue to pay legally for gas.
“EU companies can ask their Russian counterparts to meet their obligations to the “in the same way before the decree was adopted, for example by depositing the required amount in euros or dollars,” the document said.
However, the procedure for obtaining exemptions from the requirements of the decree is not yet clear, it is noted.
Before making payments, EU companies could also make a clear statement that they consider their obligations to be met. when depositing euros or dollars in Gazprombank – and not later, after converting the payment into rubles, according to the document. “It would be advisable to ask the Russian side for confirmation that this process is possible within the framework of the decree rules,” the document said.
A Commission spokesman said the companies should remain in the currency agreed in the contracts with Gazprom – 97% of which is in euros or dollars.
The EU sanctions regime does not prohibit companies to open accounts in Gazprombank or to have contacts with it to find a solution, according to the document.
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