Brussels, March 31, (dpa/GNA) – The European Commission announced a series of surprise searches on gas companies in Germany this week, as part of an antitrust investigation into European energy markets.
The European Union’s top competition regulator has concerns the companies breached EU rules, that “prohibit abuse of a dominant position” in a market, according to a statement on Thursday.
Recent energy price hikes due to supply constraints and geopolitical tensions, but also allegations of gas market manipulation in Europe, are fuelling the investigations.
For a number of months, the commission has been investigating possible speculation in the European energy market. The EU executive branch said in a statement earlier in March that it had concerns “about potential distortions of competition by operators, notably Gazprom.”
Investigators from the commission took part in the searches alongside officials from the national German competition regulator.
The EU executive branch stressed in Thursday’s statement, that unannounced inspections are only a preliminary step in an investigation.
The commission said the companies searched are involved in the supply and storage of gas, but did not comment on the results of the raid or name the companies.
“The fact that the commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour, nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself,” the statement said.
The EU executive branch said there is no legal deadline to complete investigations of anticompetitive conduct.
GNA