BRUSSELS, July 26 (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Wednesday it had carried out competition raids at ethylene purchasing companies in several EU countries over concerns those companies had formed a cartel.

"The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour," the Commission said, without naming the companies it had raided.

(Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek; editing by Philip Blenkinsop) ((robertjan.bartunek@thomsonreuters.com; +32 2 2876850; Reuters Messaging: robert-jan.bartunek.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))