Brussels, 28/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - After having threatened to introduce a decree as a means to obtain liberalisation of the gas and electricity markets if the Council did not come out with a common position before the end of the Spanish Presidency of the EU (see EUROPE 18 January page 7), the European Commission now appears to be wanting to patch things up with France, before the Barcelona Conference, which will constitute a decisive step in the future of this liberalisation issue. In an interview published in Le Monde on 25 January, European Commissioner Loyola De Palacio indicated that she was ready to accept a compromise based on the positions recently outlined by EDF President, François Roussely, namely, the opening of the markets between 2003-2005 for companies and a report on the opening up of specific markets. The Commissioner declared that the decision to open up the electricity and gas markets in 2003 and 2004 to companies would mark an important step, given that it involved the biggest slice of consummation, at around 70% of the market. She did add, however, that this would not mean the Commission loosening up the electricity market completely. In the context of France, Ms Loyola de Palacio claimed that the issue of public services was an issue for the private consumer and that she was prepared to be flexible on the dates in question and the strengthening of public services. The pro-competition Commissioner added that France would have everything to gain from liberalisation. She also declared that she "wasn't satisfied" with Germany's having liberalised its markets completely but which maintained its negotiated access system, that allowed it to limit the access of foreign competitors. She described Germany's efforts of liberalisation as purely theoretical, that the reality did not bear the theory out and that it should change its system.