EU hits EON, GDF with antitrust charges

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

BRUSSELS (AFP) — The European Commission hit EON and Gaz de France on Thursday with formal antitrust charges, accusing the two gas groups of illegally agreeing to stay out of each other's home markets.

The two companies can reply to the charges before the commission rules on whether they broke EU rules against restrictive business practices. If they are found guilty, they face hefty fines.

"The alleged infringement takes the form of a suspected agreement and/or concerted practice between EON and GDF, according to which they would not sell gas in the other party's home market to any significant extent," the commission said in a statement.

The European Union's top competition watchdog's concerns centred on a natural gas pipeline jointly owned by the two...