02/08/2001 (Agence Europe) - In an interview with Le Monde, Mario Monti, notably, turned to: - the EDF-Montedison affair, saying he was in favour of an acceleration of the electricity market liberalisation process, which, according to him, is the only way to put an end to asymmetries that remain in the sector. Mr. Monti alluded to the "kindness" that France and Germany showed each other in Stockholm (which backed each other, at the Stockholm Summit, to oppose the total liberalisation of energy in 2005: Ed.), an attitude that is "very harmful for European construction"; - the GE-Honeywell affair, recognising having suffered heavy pressure on the part of "very highly placed" American political authorities. "This has no consequence on our decision 9..). To be credible, a competition authority must make total abstraction of the flags flying over companies", is what he said in substance.