La Commission a donc estimé que GDF devait être considérée comme un concurrent potentiel de Ruhrgas avant la libéralisation, et ce malgré l’existence de certains accords (distincts de l’accord MEGAL) entre sociétés de distribution d’énergie (accords de démarcation ) ainsi qu’entre ces sociétés et les municipalités locales (accords de concession exclusive ) considérés licites jusqu’au 24 avril 1998 du fait d’une exemption.
The Commission thus found that GDF should have been regarded as a potential competitor of Ruhrgas’ prior to liberalisation, despite the existence of certain agreements (separate from the MEGAL agreement) between energy distribution companies (demarcation agreements ) and between those companies and local authorities (exclusive concession agreements ) which were regarded as lawful until 24 April 1998 because of an exemption.
