EU wants to break up big energy companies in order to make markets more competitive - je 19.09.2007 16

The European Commission wants to break up big gas and power companies to make energy markets more competitive -- but is also proposing tough conditions on foreign investment in European energy. Measures announced today would force companies such as Germany's EON or Elecricite de France to sell off their power grids and gas pipelines. The Commission is simultaneously seeking to shield markets from outsiders such as Russia's Gazprom -- unless they also break up supply and distribution.