Germany and Britain have joined forces to speed up the liberalization of Europe’s energy markets.
German Trade Minister Werner Müller and his British counterpart Stephen Byers issued a joint statement saying they would work together to stamp out inequalities between different EU states, and ensure that the electricity liberalization directive was put fully into place by the agreed deadline. The initiative is likely to focus on France, where the French energy law is likely to be at least 10 months late.
"Introduction of competition in the European energy markets must mean that energy competition is open and fair", said the statement. The two ministers said the opening of a minimum 26.5 per cent of national electricity markets is merely a first step.
British companies have called for French firms to be denied access to the British power market until the French market is opened to non-French companies.
