26/10/2009 (Agence Europe) -Jonathan Todd, a spokesperson for EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, told reporters on Monday 26 October 2009 that a mooted by France's energy giant GDF-Suez to the Belgian government had a not been notified to the European Commission, which had learned with astonishment about the planned deal in the newspapers that morning. Todd said the Commission was not aware of the deal and had therefore not taken any position on it. He said that for reasons of legal security, it might be a good idea for the Commission to find out about the matter. According to reports in the media, the deal would state that energy prices in Belgium would not change compared with those in neighbouring countries. The deal is also reported to restrict the authority of Belgium's energy regulator. Such clauses would be difficult to reconcile with EU free competition rules. (C.D.)