Spain's industry minister has strongly criticised the European Commission for its moves to ensure that the country's energy market is open to competition.

Speaking to Spanish daily El Periodico, Jose Montilla accused the commission of "impertinence" following its warning earlier this month that a move by Madrid to protect electricity company Endesa from takeover by German energy giant E.ON would be against EU rules.

"Brussels' speed and impertinence in this matter surprises us, in view of its bureaucratic slowness and lack of initiative regarding other problems", said Mr Montilla, according to AFP.

Referring to Spain's heavy immigration pressure from North Africa, he said Brussels should be "as sensitive to the dramas of immigration as it is to the pressures of E.ON".

Shortly after E.ON announced its interest in Endesa, Madrid passed laws giving its national merger authority more power to look into mergers that may threaten national strategic interests.

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