About: monopolies

Greece gives investors another week for coal plant bids

Greece has given investors another week to 15 January to submit binding bids for three coal-fired power plants and a licence to build another one, a senior energy ministry official told Reuters on Monday (7 January).

Fact-check: Did EU gas liberalisation rules put Bulgaria’s national security at risk?

Bulgarian minister Temenuzhka Petkova has said her country preferred paying a multi-million euro fine rather than follow a Commission injunction. Such a reform, in her words, would have threatened the country's national security. EURACTIV checked the facts.

Bozhidar Danev: Part of Bulgaria’s fuel sector lies in the grey economy

Unusually low fuel prices in Bulgaria are probably the result of cartels, or contraband, Bozhidar Danev told EURACTIV.com in an exclusive interview, saying the authorities have  so far been unable or unwilling to address the issue.

Bulgaria on collision course with EU in gas monopoly case

At a secret session on Saturday (24 November), the Bulgarian parliament decided not to recognise the European Commission’s positions with regard to a case of abuse of dominant position in the gas market by the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) and its subsidiaries Bulgargaz and Bulgartransgaz.

Greece agrees with lenders to sell some power plants

Greece has agreed that its main power utility, Public Power Corp (PPC), will sell some coal-fired plants as part of bailout reforms, two sources close to the talks said today (29 March).

Greek power utility shareholders approve grid spin-off

Shareholders of Greece's power utility Public Power Corp. (PPC) approved yesterday (17 January) the transfer of a 51% stake in the power grid operator ADMIE, part of a spin-off scheme, which is a major term in Greece's bailout programme.

Greece passes electricity market reform, sets sovereign wealth fund

Greek lawmakers yesterday (27 September) passed reforms sought by the country's creditors to cut pension spending and expedite privatisations in exchange for financial aid under the country's latest international bailout.

Greece says three parties interested in power grid operator stake

Greece has been approached by three parties interested in buying a minority stake in state-run power grid operator ADMIE, Energy Minister Panos Skourletis said in a newspaper interview released on 11 June.

Greece says ‘close’ to deal with creditors

Greece said late on Tuesday that (12 April) it was "very close" to clinching a deal with its international creditors, despite a suspension of a tough round of talks on the country's latest reforms.

Legitimacy of Greece’s energy regulator questioned

The legitimacy of the selection process of Greece’s Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE) executive board has been questioned, according to press reports in Athens.

Greek government accused of targeting independent authorities

The Syriza-led government is under attack over its alleged efforts to take control of country’s independent authorities.

EU antitrust regulators accept concessions from Bulgaria’s BEH

European Union antitrust regulators today (10 December) accepted an offer from state-owned Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) to open up the Balkan country's wholesale electricity market.

Vestager: Gazprom is partitioning markets in Central and Eastern Europe

Russia's Gazprom may have leveraged its dominant position by obtaining unrelated commitments on pipelines from its customers, as a condition of supplying gas to Bulgaria and Poland, says Margrethe Vestager.

The energy conundrum in Bulgaria and Greece

Bulgaria and Greece are hard nuts to crack when it comes to implementing EU energy legislation and integrating with the wider European energy market. These two countries illustrate the difficulties of building an Energy Union.

Vestager files charges against Gazprom, rejects bias allegations

The European Commission launched a legal attack against Gazprom on Wedensday (22 April) , against the background of a major political crisis between the EU and Russia, over Ukraine.

Greek industry puts hope in EU to ease the grip of national monopolies

Greece’s state electricity supplier should negotiate its tariffs and not impose them unilaterally, according to a European Commission decision that paves the way for a “new deal” on energy pricing in heavy industry.

Naftogaz chief: We don’t want to be a monopoly

What is often missed when Naftogaz gets called a monopoly is that the firm was intended to be one by previous Ukrainian governments. Current reforms will make it compatible with EU law, the company’s CEO Andriy Kobolev told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.

Ukraine crisis, anti-corruption drive, boost Romanian energy reform

Recent investigations of “smart guys” contracts have helped reduce corruption within the Romanian energy sector, and have accelerated the country’s market liberalisation, at a time when the Ukraine crisis has forced Bucharest to assume a more important role in region. EURACTIV Romania reports.

EU regulators probe Apple’s music streaming plans

The European Commission is scrutinising Apple Inc's dealings with record labels and digital music companies to find if they are trying to unfairly limit free, ad-supported rivals, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Bulgaria’s energy sector reform to start with the regulator

The only candidate for the post of head of Bulgaria’s energy regulator has presented his vision for the refurbishing of the country’s energy sector, marred by cronyism, monopolies, wasteful practices and the siphoning of public funds.

EU antitrust regulators to investigate e-commerce

European Union regulators plan a year-long investigation into e-commerce to help remove barriers to cross-border trade in the 28-nation bloc, the EU's antitrust chief said on Thursday.

Athens opposes EU energy strategy, blocks privatisations

The Syriza-led government will be against an Energy Union that undermines Greece's national interests, including in its relations with Russia, said Greek energy minister Panagiotis Lafazanis, who also ruled out any privatisation schemes for the country’s energy sector.

Bulgarian prime minister quits following mass protests over electricity bills

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov resigned today (20 February) following boisterous public protests in the capital and several other cities over the price of electricity.