Germany has added its voice to the growing number of complaints about France’s failure to open up its electricity market to outsiders while EdF is trying to expand elsewhere in Europe.
Werner Müller, Germany’s economics minister, said EdF was seeking unfair access to the German power market by bidding for a stake in Energie Baden Württemberg. EdF has detailed plans to use its 25.1 per cent stake in the group as a base for further expansion in Europe. Mr Müller pledged to join other European countries in putting pressure on France to implement the EU directive on opening up the electricity market.
Bertrand Collomb, chairman of Lafarge, the French building materials group, called on the French government to open its electricity markets, saying: “In France, we will have to hurry to put the new law in position. Costs for French industry are no longer competitive, and it is urgent that we work on this.”
