Brussels raps Spain over Endesa

Spain has 30 days to respond to the allegations regarding Endesa

Spain broke EU law by imposing terms on the purchase of energy company Endesa by peers Enel of Italy and Spain's Acciona, the European Commission says.

In a preliminary finding Brussels said it believed Madrid broke takeover laws when it imposed protectionist terms.

Spain's energy commission had wanted to intervene if it believed the new owners of the firm were not acting in the best interests of Spanish energy users.

The Commission approved the 42.5bn euro ($60bn; £30bn) deal on 5 July.

It also said it had sole jurisdiction over the deal.

But Spain's National Energy Commission had imposed conditions on 26 April and 4 July, breaching the buyers' rights.

The European Commission said its preliminary view was the Spanish energy commission, CNE, violated the companies' rights to invest, set up a business and move goods anywhere in the 27-state community.

Spain has 30 days to defend itself before the EU takes a final decision that would overrule Spanish decisions.

Enel's deal with Acciona for Endesa expires on 1 October. A rival bid by German firm E.On collapsed in April.