Spain breached EU rules on energy deals

Report of European Court of Justice judgement in Case C-207/07 announced 17 July 2008. The ECJ stated that Spain breached European laws when it attempted to protect domestic energy companies by imposing special conditions for their acquisition. The system, which was introduced in 2006 requires deals in the energy sector to gain prior approval from Spanish regulators at the National Energy Commission. The Court said that this breached the 'free movement of capital' and 'freedom of establishment' rules.

ECJ: Press Release, No.54, 2008 (offers link to all official texts associated with case) http://curia.europa.eu/en/actu/communiques/cp08/aff/cp080054en.pdf

ESO: Background information: Memo: Mergers: Commission welcomes Court judgment on Spain's failure to withdraw illegal conditions imposed on E.ON / Endesa merger http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-mergers-commission-welcomes-court-judgment-on-spains-failure-to-withdraw-illegal-conditions-imposed-on-e-on-endesa-merger/

BBC News, 17.7.08: Spain broke rules in energy deal http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7511183.stm

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