Russia threatens legal challenge to EU energy rules

The Russian government has threatened a legal challenge to what it said were unfair new rules proposed by the European Commission to stop foreign investors taking over European energy infrastructure, The Financial Times reports Friday.

"Russia will use any legal means possible in accordance with international law to ensure equal access to markets for its companies," said Kremlin's deputy press secretary Dmitri Peskov.

The European Commission will propose on Sept. 19 that Europe's utilities sell off their gas and electricity networks to improve competition.
Investors from countries whose own energy markets aren't open and competitive, such as Russia, may be barred from buying these networks.