Brussels launches RWE and Eni antitrust probe

Concerns over the regulatory threat to Europe's large integrated energy groups were heightened May 2007 after the European Commission said it had launched a formal antitrust investigation against RWE and Eni.

The European Commission has decided to open anti-trust proceedings against the Italian energy company ENI. The case arises out of the inspection carried out in 2006 on ENI premises and premises of ENI subsidiaries in Italy, Austria and Germany (see MEMO/06/205). The Commission proceedings focus on behaviour by the ENI Group which it suspects may have been aimed at exclusion of potential competitors from Italian gas supply markets (i.e. so-called market foreclosure).

The European Commission has decided to open antitrust proceedings against the German energy company RWE. The case arises out of information obtained during inspections carried out in 2006 on RWE premises in Germany (see MEMO/06/205). The Commission proceedings focus on possible exclusion of potential competitors from the market (i.e. so-called market foreclosure) by RWE Group through the putting in place of artificial obstacles to access by other companies (so-called 'third party access') to its gas transport network in its core area, North Rhine-Westphalia.

European Commission: MEMO/07/186: Antitrust: Commission initiates proceedings against RWE Group concerning suspected foreclosure of German gas supply markets http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/186&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: MEMO/07/187: Antitrust: Commission initiates proceedings against the ENI Group concerning suspected foreclosure of Italian gas supply markets http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/187&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: DG Competition: Sectors: Energy http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/sectors/energy/overview_en.html

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