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EU anticipated to take legal action against Germany over gas tariff, sources state

The European Commission is anticipated to take legal action against Germany for charging its neighbours an extra cost for buying gas from its storage, viewed as flouting the EU's single market rules, two sources familiar with the matter said.

The sources stated the match, referred to as an infringement treatment, could be launched as early as in the next few days.

The German tariff is a legacy of the European energy crisis that peaked in 2022 after Moscow slashed gas flows to Europe and an undersea surge shut down the Nord Stream pipeline from Russia to Germany - the route for 15% of Europe's gas imports.

To recover the billions of euros it invested in buying non-Russian gas at raised costs to fill its storage caverns - the most significant of any nation in the EU - Germany presented what it called a neutrality charge on gas sales to its neighbours.

The additional cost has more than tripled because it was introduced in October 2022, which some federal governments have said breaks EU single market guidelines that forbid any tariffs on trade in between the bloc's countries.

We remain in touch with the German authorities on this matter, including at political level ... we do not hypothesize on the possible opening of violation treatments, a spokesperson for the Commission said.

A representative for Germany's economy and environment ministry stated the levy was other and nondiscriminatory EU countries had gained from Germany quickly filling its vast gas storage.

This measure has made a definitive contribution to European security of supply and cost stabilisation, the representative stated in an emailed declaration.

The EU's official violation process begins with a notification inquiring, followed by a demand to comply with EU law before the matter is referred to the European Court of Justice. The treatment can take months.

The Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary in particular have been pushing the Commission to take action against the German levy.

EU energy regulator ACER has stated such charges resulted in higher gas costs in some nations, and ought to not be used on cross-border trade.

Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said last month the levy put the bloc's solidarity at risk and hurt efforts to cut the EU's dependence on Russian gas.

Trade in between member states is not restricted by the levy, so there is no validation for switching to Russian gas, the spokesperson for Germany's economy and environment ministry stated.