Paris, 18/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - Answering questions put to him on EUROPE 1, on Friday morning, Competition Commissioner Mario Monti confirmed the Commission's determination to fully liberalise the gas and electricity markets. He stressed that opening the market up to competition would under no circumstances mean an obligation to privatise publicly owned companies. "It must be stressed that Europe is calling for liberalisation, especially in the field of electricity, but Europe is not calling for privatisation", he declared. These remarks echo remarks made at the beginning of the week by French Economy Minister Laurent Fabius (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.7). In answer to questions put to him regarding EDF reorganisation, announced on Thursday by EDF President François Roussely, Mr Monti said that this is a "totally independent choice" and "has nothing to do with liberalisation". The reorganisation of EDF, which is to begin during this quarter, provides for its current activities to be grouped in geographical and operational branches.