Brussels, 23/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - Speaking to the press, Amador Sanchez Rico, spokesperson to Loyola de Palacio, the European Commissioner in charge of transport and energy, reiterated that "the College of Commissioners has seen no contradictions" on the EDF dossier. The spokesperson confirmed that the Commission was sticking to what had previously been decided on 16 December, and called for an end to limitless State guarantees, which lead to competition distortion. The French State, which has since committed to a reform of the EDF statute, will face trade union demonstrations against this reform.
Declarations by Ms de Palacio at the third parliamentary meetings on nuclear energy in Paris gave the impression that there was disagreement on this dossier within the College of Commissioners. Her words seemed to indicate that it was the Commission which asked the French State to get rid of the status of industrial and commercial public undertaking.