The European Commission has launched a formal investigation on gas exports restrictions from Romania.

It will look into whether Romania’s gas transmission system operator Transgaz has been hindering gas exports to other EU Member States and if it has abused a dominant market position.

The investigation will focus on allegations that Transgaz has devised a strategy to restrict gas exports from Romania to other nations.

The system operator’s behaviour, if established, could lead to higher prices and less secure supplies of natural gas, according to the Commission.

Romania is the third largest natural gas producer in the EU – after the Netherlands and the UK.

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy said: “The Commission is determined to ensure that consumers throughout the EU enjoy secure energy supplies at affordable prices. An integrated and competitive single European energy market is essential in this regard.

“We therefore need to investigate whether Transgaz has been abusing its dominant position by isolating the Romanian gas market and preventing its integration into the European gas network.”