The UK has rejected French proposals for the future of the European Union energy industries, warning that they would perpetuate distortions in the market and hamper competition.

Just days ahead of a meeting of EU energy ministers, Alistair Darling, the UK trade and industry secretary, restated London's support for the European Commission's plans for full "unbundling" of energy industries: taking control of the gas and electricity networks away from suppliers and giving it to independent companies.