EU Raids Gas Companies

BONN, Germany (CN) – The European Commission confirmed it’s made surprise raids of European natural gas companies under suspicion of anticompetitive practices.      Energy Minister Traicho Traikov told Reuters that the commission, Europe’s executive branch, raided offices of 21 companies in 10 central and eastern European states.     So far, these have included Bulgarian state-owned firms, along with German, Polish and Austrian companies, and a private firm in which Russia’s Gazprom has an interest.     Gazprom’s Berlin headquarters were apparently raided on Tuesday.     The commission stated that it’s focusing its investigation on the “upstream supply level, where, unilaterally or through agreements, competition may be hampered or delayed.”