Press Release: Antitrust: Commission market tests commitments by GDF Suez to boost competition in French gas market

The European Commission invited comments from interested parties on commitments offered by the French energy company GDF Suez to remedy concerns that it might have infringed EC Treaty rules on abuse of a dominant market position (Article 82) in the gas sector. The Commission was concerned in particular that GDF Suez might be closing off competitors from access to gas import capacity into France. Whilst not acknowledging any infringement, GDF Suez proposed to address the Commission's concerns through a major structural reduction in its long-term reservations of gas import capacity into France. The Commission reviewed the commitments in close cooperation with the French energy regulator. The Commission invited interested parties to present their comments on the commitments offered by GDF Suez within two months of the publication in the EU Official Journal (on 9 July, 2009). Should the market test indicate that GDF Suez's proposals remedy the Commission's competition concerns, the Commission may adopt a decision under Article 9 of Regulation 1/2003 making the commitments legally binding on GDF Suez.

European Commission: MEMO/09/323: Antitrust: Commission action against cartels – Questions and answers http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/323&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: SPEECH/09/333: E.ON and GDF gas market sharing, GDF commitments, Pharmaceutical Sector Inquiry Final Report Press http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/09/333&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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