“Limited progress was made in the energy area… It was proposed to closely involve the Competition Council and to develop a trading exchange in the gas market, as wholesale gas markets improve transparency and allow prices to reflect market conditions,” the Commission said in a report.
It said another related issue is to remove the physical barriers to gas trade. The process must be concluded as soon as possible, because in this particular field Romania’s progress is non-existent, the Commission added.
“These conditions are crucial to ensure the success of price deregulation and for Romania to be part of the EU internal market,” the report noted.
However, the authorities should be careful so that the deregulation process doesn’t affect competition, “particularly in the gas market where two producers account for a large share of the market.”
Romania’s dominant gas producers are OMV Petrom (SNP.RO) and state-run company Romgaz Medias.
The Commission said Romania missed the September 2011 deadline for the presentation of its roadmap for phasing out regulated prices in electricity and gas.
“It was agreed that a roadmap on price deregulation would be submitted early 2012,” the report said.