Competition Law

EU clears extension of bank support measures in 4 Member States by Ina Dimireva — last modified 30 June 2010, 17:07 CET

The European Commission has extended its authorisation under EU state aid rules until 31 December 2010 of the Dutch and Slovenian bank guarantee schemes and the Greek and Polish bank support measures.

EU okays bail-out of Spain's Caja Castilla-La Mancha by Ina Dimireva — last modified 29 June 2010, 23:46 CET

The European Commission has authorised, under EU state aid rules, Spanish aid for the restructuring of Caja Castilla-La Mancha because it adequately addresses the problems that led to the bail-out of the bank in 2009 whilst avoiding undue distortions of competition.

EU approves bank support schemes in 4 Member States by Ina Dimireva — last modified 29 June 2010, 23:46 CET

The European Commission has extended, under EU state aid rules, until 31 December 2010, guarantee schemes for banks in Ireland, Spain and Denmark and a liquidity scheme in Hungary. The extended schemes feature higher premiums to be paid by the banks for the guarantees and liquidity granted by the State.

EU approves Foxconn's acquisition of Sony's television production in Slovakia and Mexico by Ina Dimireva — last modified 28 June 2010, 22:09 CET

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition by the Taiwanese company Foxconn of Sony entities producing televisions in Slovakia and Mexico.

EU approves EUR 390m aid for Polish gas project by Ina Dimireva — last modified 23 June 2010, 17:25 CET

The European Commission has authorised, under the EU state aid rules, the provision of state grants amounting to EUR 390 million for the construction or capacity increase of four underground gas storage sites in Poland.

EU to investigate aid granted to SEA Handling of Italy by Ina Dimireva — last modified 23 June 2010, 17:25 CET

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into compensation for losses incurred by SEA Handling, an Italian groundhandling company operating at airports in Milan. The losses have been absorbed by the Italian authorities since 2002 through the public airport operator at Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate airports.

EU approves acquisition of Mitgas by RWE of Germany by Ina Dimireva — last modified 19 June 2010, 00:41 CET

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition of Mitgas (Germany) by enviaM (Germany), which is wholly controlled by RWE of Germany.

EU okays conditionally DFDS acquisition of Norfolk by Ina Dimireva — last modified 19 June 2010, 00:25 CET

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition of Norfolk, a ferry and cargo shipping provider in the North Sea, by DFDS of Denmark. The approval is conditional upon the conclusion by DFDS of a space charter agreement on routes between the UK and Denmark.

EU approves Procter & Gamble's Sara Lee acquisition by Ina Dimireva — last modified 19 June 2010, 00:25 CET

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the Sara Lee Air Care business by Procter & Gamble, both of the US.

Commission approves RBS Sempra sale to JP Morgan by Ina Dimireva — last modified 17 June 2010, 17:02 CET

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of RBS Sempra Commodities LLP, the commodities trading arm of UK-based Royal Bank of Scotland, by JP Morgan Chase & Co.

EU-US Open Skies: MEPs call for open markets by Ina Dimireva — last modified 17 June 2010, 17:04 CET

The European Parliament regrets continuing US restrictions on EU companies' ownership of stakes in US airlines, calls for better protection of air passengers' personal data, and says airlines from both sides should be included in emission trading rules, in a resolution passed on Thursday.

EU must enforce rail liberalisation, say MEPs by Ina Dimireva — last modified 17 June 2010, 17:06 CET

The European Commission should launch infringement proceedings without delay against EU Member States who have not yet opened up their rail networks to competition, says the European Parliament in a resolution adopted on Thursday.

EU approves Italian retail gas joint venture between A2A and Gazprom by Ina Dimireva — last modified 16 June 2010, 23:07 CET

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation an Italian gas retail supply company between A2A Spa of Italy and Gazprom Germania GmbH, a subsidiary of Gazprom.

EU approves acquisition of Tarmac of Germany by Ina Dimireva — last modified 11 June 2010, 23:12 CET

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation part of the proposed acquisition of the aggregate activities of Tarmac, part of the UK-based Anglo American group, by Eurovia, part of the French Vinci group.

EU okays Latvian state aid for exporting firms by Ina Dimireva — last modified 10 June 2010, 23:33 CET

The European Commission has authorised, under EU State aid rules, a measure adopted by Latvia to limit the adverse impact of the current financial crisis on exporting firms.

EU approves EUR 16m for new Fiat transmission unit by Ina Dimireva — last modified 09 June 2010, 17:11 CET

The European Commission has authorised, under EU state aid rules, EUR 16 million of regional investment aid, which the Italian authorities intend to grant to Fiat Powertrain Technologies, a subsidiary of the Fiat Group, for the production of car transmissions in Verrone, Italy.

Hungary Mining Act violates EU state aid rules: EC by Ina Dimireva — last modified 09 June 2010, 17:13 CET

The European Commission has concluded that a 2005 agreement between the Hungarian government and the Oil and Gas Company MOL conferred a financial advantage on the company that cannot be exempted under EU State aid rules.

EU accepts BT/Ofcom plans for fibre broadband 'virtual unbundling' by Ina Dimireva — last modified 02 June 2010, 23:18 CET

The European Commission has accepted UK telecoms regulator Ofcom's proposal to oblige British Telecom to provide 'virtual' access to its optical fibre infrastructure to alternative operators.

EU approves capital injection into Irish Educational Building Society by Ina Dimireva — last modified 02 June 2010, 23:11 CET

The European Commission has authorised under EU state aid rules an emergency recapitalisation worth €875 million in favour of the Irish Educational Building Society (EBS) for a period of six months as urgent rescue aid.

EU approves acquisition of Mobil Oil Austria by ENI by Ina Dimireva — last modified 27 May 2010, 20:56 CET

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Mobil Oil Austria by Agip Austria, which is wholly controlled by ENI of Italy.