French market authority approves long-delayed GDF-Suez merger

French stock market authorities have given final approval to a long-delayed merger between Gaz de France and Suez, the companies said Monday.

The deal _ which would create one of Europe's biggest energy companies _ next goes to shareholders of GDF and Suez, who vote separately July 16 on the merger terms.

If approved, the merger would take effect with a combined stock market listing on July 22, the Paris-based companies said in a joint statement. The new company would be called GDF Suez.

"All prerequisites to the shareholder vote on the two companies' merger have now been fulfilled," the statement said.

The merger idea was …