Energy liberalisation battle reaches critical stage

The European Commission has tabled a compromise deal to liberalise the EU's gas sector, bowing to pressure from a group of member states, who firmly oppose the idea of separating gas companies' production and supply wings.

Energy experts from all 27 EU states have entered a critical phase in the months-long battle over the commission's furthest-reaching intervention in the energy sector yet, with talks scheduled for almost every day over the coming weeks.

The core of Brussels' ...