Brussels, 24/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission confirms that on 22nd and 23rd February 2005 Commission officials carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of several European manufacturers of flat and car glass in Belgium, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden (only relating to flat glass ) and Italy (only relating to car glass). The Commission explains that it “has reason to believe that the manufacturers concerned may have (amongst other things) coordinated price-increases and agreed on the introduction of a so called “energy surcharge” in the area of flat glass (which compensates energy prices: Editor's note in this sector). Glass producers are also suspected of fixing a coordinated level of customer distribution and similar mechanisms on prices and supplies. According to Reuters, Pilkington from Britain, Saint Gobain from France and the Belgian Glaverbel (Japanese subsidiary Asahi Glass) confirmed that inspectors from the Commission had paid them a visit. Pilkington and Glaverbel say they are ready to collaborate but Saint Gobain stated in a press release that its glass departments at the ministry of defence and its offices at Aix-la-Chapelle in Germany were being targeted. This procedure is the first stage in a Community probe that has not been set a deadline. The investigation will not determine the guilt or the companies. This will only be decided at the end of the inquiry.