EU watchdogs probe energy firms

The European Commission has decided to open formal anti-trust proceedings against the German energy company E.ON and the French gas company Gaz de France (GdF) for a suspected breach of the EC Treaty's rules on restrictive business practices (Article 81). The case arises out of the inspection carried out in 2006 on E.ON and Gaz de France premises in Germany and France (see MEMO/06/205). The Commission proceedings focus on a possible agreement or concerted practice between E.ON and Gaz de France to keep out of each other's home market, even after the liberalisation of the European gas markets.

BBC News, 12.6.08: French gas firm facing EU probe http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7449921.stm

European Commission: MEMO/08/394: Antitrust: Commission confirms sending Statement of Objections to E.ON and Gaz de France concerning alleged sharing of French and German gas markets http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/394&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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