TIMELINE: Key dates in Gaz de France-Suez merger

(Reuters) - French utilities Suez (LYOE.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Gaz de France GAZ.PA moved closer to clinching a 90-billion-euro ($123 billion) merger on Sunday after agreeing terms that involve floating off shares in Suez's Environment business.

Here are some key dates in France's long-running attempt to form Europe's second-biggest listed utility after power giant EDF (EDF.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

February 21-22, 2006 - Italian utility Enel (ENEI.MI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) says it could make a bid for rival Suez to get its hands on its Belgian power unit Electrabel.

February 25 - French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin announces planned merger of Suez and Gaz de France (GDF), raising protests and accusations of protectionism from Italy.

June 14-15 - Finance Minister Thierry Breton presents merger and GDF privatization plan to a non-voting session of Parliament and the upper Senate chamber.

June 19 - French government postpones decisive parliamentary debate on the GDF bill until September in the face of mounting opposition from the ruling conservatives.

June 28 - French cabinet approves the privatization bill.

August 29-31 - Parliamentary Commission reviews a record 137,449 amendments filed by left-wing opposition members in an attempt to filibuster the process.

September 7 - Parliament starts debate on GDF privatization.