Brussels, 07/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - Speaking in Rome on 7 March before a parliamentary committee, Commissioner Monti, responsible for competition, raised the complementary nature between competition policy and regulation in the field of energy, in the framework of the ongoing liberalisation policy. He recalled the role that competition policy could play in accelerating the process, stressing that "the liberalisation of the energy sector (…) remains a difficult exercise, but a priority goal for the growth of the European economy". He then recalled the three conditions that must be met: 1) offer consumers the freedom to choose their suppliers; 2) guarantee the presence of several producers/suppliers; 3) ensure transparent, non-discriminatory access to grids (see EUROPE of 20 February, p.15). As for transposing the "electricity" and "gas" directives into national legislation, he recalled the case of Italy which, like Spain, has introduced into its legislation measures of a structural nature, alluding to the proposal made by Minister Marzano "of redefining the "anti-trust ceilings" regarding production capacities and limit their application in time". Regarding Member states that protect their old monopolies, Mr. Monti hopes that the Council will find "the courage to fully exploit the possibilities offered by the treaty, avoiding all paralysis that crossed vetoes entails" and that the Barcelona Summit "does not shirk its responsibility of providing a new political impetus" in the matter.