Brussels, 10/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has announced that it carried out surprise inspections last Thursday, at the premises of four European companies specialising in international removals. The objective was to gather information on a possible cartel between these companies, setting rates together and sharing the market and clients. The Commission has not revealed the names of the companies involved, but has indicated that all inspections took place in Brussels-based offices. The Belgian daily De Standaard believes that the three market leaders, Interdean, Transworld and Ziegler, may have been visited. These companies are specialists in the field of removals for multinational companies, embassies and international institutions (including the European institutions). They are said to speak regularly about the business inquiries they receive, and decide which company will be awarded the contract. The Commission specified that the inquiry is in its preliminary stages, and that the inspections do not indicate culpability on the part of the companies.