French gas privatisation raises heat in France and EU
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A new round in a bitter fight over French energy privatisation has begun in parliament over a plan for Gaz de France to merge with Suez which also spotlights deep strains in European energy policy.
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The proposed merger of French energy group Suez and state-owned Gaz de France (GDF) hit last-ditch problems amid shareholder wrangling and a court victory for trade unions which threatened to hold up the deal.
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Crude oil's record-breaking run is not hitting consumer demand in France, the fastest growing euro zone economy, says budget minister Dominique Bussereau.
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BUDAPEST, Aug 28 (IPS) - Many European politicians look desperately for  alternatives to Russian gas, but while concerns over excessive  dependency on one source are legitimate, many have missed the  point that in the big energy game economic considerations weigh  more heavily than political ideology.
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The Romanian government has said a German and a French company have been designated winners in tenders for stakes in two gas distributing companies.
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BUCHAREST, Jan 29 (IPS) - With the European Union becoming ever more  uncomfortable over its energy dependency on Russia, Romania,  which joined the bloc along with Bulgaria Jan. 1, is paving the  way for a pipeline project considered crucial for Europe's  energy safety.
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BRITAIN will infuriate its partners this year as it fights to keep its rebate on the EU budget, but the biggest trouble may come from France.
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PARIS/LONDON  - France warned foreign banks on Tuesday not to try to grab control of Societe Generale, as speculation of a takeover approach by rival BNP Paribas drove its shares more than 10 percent higher.
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The creation of a single European gas market took a step forward yesterday with the Dutch government taking control of its country&#39;s gas transport network from Royal Dutch/Shell and ExxonMobil.
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French energy group Suez and state-owned Gaz de France (GDF) were believed Sunday to be on the brink of announcing a long-delayed merger to create a new European power giant.
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French oil major Total  fears Venezuela's drive to take over complex heavy oil projects run by foreign oil companies in the Orinoco belt could lead to operational problems, chairman Thierry Desmarest said on Tuesday.
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Russian and French gas companies Gazprom   and Gaz de France  will sign several major  deals on Tuesday, guaranteeing the Russian firm access to more  end users in Europe, industry sources said on Monday.
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"I'm worried about the growing attacks that France is deploying against its European allies, against the Germans, the Luxembourgers, against all of the European countries."  France faces thinly concealed and growing frustration from Paris' European partners, irked at President Nicolas Sarkozy's strident position towards EU spending limits and attacks on the ECB. via Raw Story
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PARIS, Aug 11  (IPS) - France and the United States have begun a new race  to compete for favours with  undemocratic regimes in Africa. The  competition is growing particularly in the oil-  rich North and  West Africa.
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Hopes are mounting that French utility groups Suez and Gaz de France are on the brink of signing a merger deal.
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The high level of oil prices is posing a risk for the European economic recovery, European Union industry lobby group UNICE said.
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French lawmakers voted Tuesday to approve legislation to privatize Gaz de France, helping clear the way for the natural gas company's state-backed merger with Suez SA.