Brussels, 24/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission confirmed having opened an investigation into the existence of a possibly price-fixing cartel in the market for plasterboard, a material used in the construction industry. The investigation has been open since 1998, and a first stage has just ended with the sending of several statement of objections. Following several inspections carried out in 1998 and 1999 at the seat of a certain number of specialised companies in the sector, and after the examination of information gathered, the Commission sent a statement of objections to five of them, on which it has not disclosed the names. The incriminated companies have, from now, time to answer the objections, to have access to the dossiers that concern them and to request a formal hearing at the Commission. The Commission adds that there is no cut-off date for the closure of a investigation of this kind, whose duration largely depends upon the complexity of the case, the existence or not of a right to defence and talks and other procedures which can be made use of.