The European Commission this week pledged to keep up the pressure on France

Date: 14/10/1999

to open its electricity market to competition in line with EU rules, but denied reports that it was on the verge of starting legal action against Paris. The Commission said it would initiate fortnightly reports on the progress of French legislation to implement the Union liberalisation directive which was supposed to enter into force in February this year. “If we ever think France will not fulfil its commitment to have the new law in place before the end of the year, we could start proceedings,” said a spokesman.