17/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the German Government announced that it was considering setting up an independent regulator with as job to supervise access to the gas market if, as many observers expect, the consumer groups fail to agree on a voluntary code by July. The regulator could start work on 1 January of next year, says the Economy Minister Werner Muller. His main task would be to set the price of gas. The formula would also meet the desire expressed by the European Summit of Barcelona at which Heads of State and Government called on all Member States to appoint independent regulators in their energy sectors (gas and electricity) so as in particular to ensure effective control of the conditions for determining prices".