MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti economic commentator...

One plan envisages domestic gas prices growing almost level with export prices by 2010-2011.

The European Union, which thinks that its member states act as donors for Russian consumers, has long demanded that gas prices in Russia be raised to European standards. Russian gas monopoly Gazprom would also benefit from the increase, because it sells more than half of its output on the domestic market - currently at dumping prices.

However, domestic gas prices are lower than export prices in the majority of gas-producing countries.

A year ago, the Russian government approved a program to raise domestic gas prices on a par with export prices by 2010-2011. At present, consumers in Russia pay several times less than in Europe, between $50 and $70 per 1,000 cubic meters against more than $300.

This does not make Gazprom and its European partners happy. Europeans complain that Russian consumers get gas at prices below the prime cost, and that Gazprom makes up for

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