Russia files challenge against European Union over its rules for gas pipelines

GENEVA – Russia has filed a dispute challenging the European Union's energy market regulations, saying they violate international trade rules.

The World Trade Organization says Russia's case takes aim at an EU policy that bans suppliers from owning transit facilities such as pipelines. Europe gets about a quarter of its gas from Russia.

WTO officials said in a statement Thursday that Russia claims the EU regulations are "inconsistent" with international trade rules on subsidies, services and other measures.

At stake in the dispute is how much control Russia's state-controlled Gazprom gas company can exert over European pipelines.

The WTO says Russian-EU consultations at the Geneva-based organization would examine production, supply and transmission of natural gas or electricity, alleged discriminatory certification requirements, and access to network capacity by transmission service operators.