Abstract

The article examines the main competition's restrictions in the Italian natural gas market. Firstly there is a syntetic description of SNAM'S market power. The analysis of the main rules stated by the directive 98/30/EC follows. The article goes on to the risk of its minimalist implementation. A description of the necessary requirements to improve regulation and competition follows: the SNAM'S vertical disintegration, the access conditions to gas pipelines and related facilities, the specification of "eligible customers" and the availability of natural gas purchasing. The article ends with a discussion of governmental decree of liberalization to implement the EC directive.