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CR Focus 3rd July 2007

To visit the "Cartel Watch" section, click here.
European Notifications and Publications
Mergers - Invitations to Comment

Nestlé/Gerber >>>more>>>

Superior Essex/Invex >>>more>>>

Debitel/Talkline >>>more>>>

Mergers - Second Phase Investigation

Kronospan/Constantia >>>more>>>

Mergers Cleared

KKR/Stefano Pessina/Alliance Boots >>>more>>>

Veolia/Sulo >>>more>>>

Nestlé/Novartis (Medical Nutrition Business) >>>more>>>

RWE Power/Carbon/JV >>>more>>>

voestalpine/Böhler-Uddeholm >>>more>>>

Speeches

Andris Piebalgs speech: "East meets West: new Frontiers of Energy Security" >>>more>>>

Charlie McCreevy speech: "Challenges for EU supervisory arrangements in an increasingly global financial environment" >>>more>>>

Joe Borg speech: "A European Maritime Policy: An investment in the future of the oceans and seas" >>>more>>>

Joe Borg speech: "The future of ports - Part of our future vision for the Oceans and Seas" >>>more>>>

José Manuel Durão Barroso speech: "Speech on the results of the European Council of 21-23 June 2007" >>>more>>>

Margot Wallström speech: "Address to the Constitutional Affairs Committee on the Constitutional reform process" >>>more>>>

Neelie Kroes speech: "Competition Policy: Achievements in 2006; Work Programme in 2007; Priorities for 2008". >>>more>>>

Neelie Kroes speech: "How best to complete the Single European Market for energy?" >>>more>>>

Peter Mandelson speech: "Openness, trade and the European Union" >>>more>>>

Viviane Reding speech: "Self regulation applied to interactive games : success and challenges" >>>more>>>

State Aid

Regional aid map 2007-2013 for The Netherlands approved >>>more>>>

Portuguese State Aid investments for pulp and paper sector in Figueira da Foz approved >>>more>>>

Austrian aid to the Austrian Bank BAWAG-PSK conditionally approved >>>more>>>

Investigation into German training Aid to DHL Leipzig-Halle >>>more>>>

Latest scoreboard analyses of harm done by illegal aid >>>more>>>

Spain to provide detailed information on ECJ ruling recovering illegal and incompatible fiscal aid granted in Basque region >>>more>>>

Public Procurement

EC closes infringement cases against Finland, Italy and Slovenia relating to waste management services and implementation of public procurement directives >>>more>>>

EC initiates infringement proceedings against France amending certain rules on tendering procedures and communal services in local authorities >>>more>>>

EC initiates infringement proceedings against Italy relating breaches of public procurement implementation >>>more>>>

EC refers Germany to the ECJ over procurement of group pension services by municipal authorities and undertakings >>more>>>

EC refers Germany to ECJ over award of rescue transport services in certain federal states and contracts awarded by public broadcasting organisations >>>more>>>

EC sends further reasoned opinion to Spain for failure to comply with ECJ ruling on award of health service contracts >>>more>>>

Miscellaneous

EC launches public consultation to strengthen the global position of Europe's Information and Communication Technology industries by ensuring access to global markets >>>more>>>

EC announces new EU Roaming Regulations are now in force >>>more>>>

EC adopts communication establishing EU's position on radio spectrum >>>more>>>

EC closes infringement proceedings against Czech Republish after repeal of certain sections of its Competition Act >>>more>>>

EC formally requests Malta to amend its monopoly for the import, storage and wholesale of petroleum products >>>more>>>

EC closes infringement proceedings against Luxembourg following the simplification of its telecommunications market >>>more>>>

EC announces its intention to refer Malta to the ECJ over discriminatory airport taxes >>>more>>>

EC sends Spain formal notice for failing to comply with ECJ judgment over Maritime Cabotage >>>more>>>

EC to refer Germany, Spain and Estonia to the ECJ for failing to respect legislation on better availability and use of port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues >>>more>>>

EC takes legal action against Italy over waste crisis in Campania region >>>more>>>

EC announces its intention under EU Telecom rules to proceed with 15 infringement cases, close 6 and suspend 1 >>>more>>>

EC refers Germany to ECJ over implementation of its "regulatory holiday" law >>>more>>>

EC initiates infringement proceedings against France and Luxembourg for failing to comply with Council Regulation of Community Design Courts and Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom for rental and lending rights >>>more>>>

EC sends reasoned opinion to Portugal regarding free movement of capital, requesting abolishment of special rights held by Portuguese State in EDP and GALP Energia >>>more>>>

EC sends reasoned opinions France, Greece and Sweden regarding obstacles to free movement of sport betting services >>>more>>>

EC sends reasoned opinions: to France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Sweden for failure to implement Directive on enforcement of IP rights; to Greece, Malta and Spain for failure to implement Capital Requirements Directive; and Spain for failure to implement Public Procurement Directive >>>more>>>

EC sends reasoned opinion to Luxembourg and Ireland for failure to implement security of supply of gas and electricity >>>more>>>

EC adopts 2006 Annual Report on Competition Policy >>>more>>>

EC not to renew Block Exemption Regulation exempting IATA passenger tariff conferences concerning air routes between EU and non-EU countries from EC Treaty's ban on restrictive business practices >>>more>>>

EC prohibits takeover of Aer Lingus by Ryanair >>>more>>>

EC announces EU citizens ability to choose gas and electricity suppliers from 1 July 2007 >>>more>>>

 
UK Notifications & Publications
Consultations

Ofgem opens consultation into Proposed Enforcement Guidelines on Complaints and Investigations >>>more>>>

ORR opens consultation into Market Study Prioritisation Criteria >>>more>>>

CAT

Co-operative Group (CWS) Limited v Office of Fair Trading >>more>>>

VIP Communications Limited (in administration) v Office of Communications >>>more>>>

Competition Commission

Prosper de Mulder and William Forrest and Son (Paisley) Limited - decision to release Undertakings >>>more>>>

CC opens Investigation into Home Credit Market >>>more>>>

Mergers Invitation to Comment

IBA Health Limited/iSOFT Group plc >>>more>>>

Miscellaneous

Ofcom announces intention to assess BT Undertakings >>>more>>>

Ofcom publishes statement relating to television channels required to provide television access services in 2008 >>>more>>>

Ofwat publishes annual report for 2006-07 >>>more>>>

 
European Notifications and Publications
Mergers - Invitation to Comment

COMP/M.4688: Nestlé/Gerber - food and beverage production, baby food, healthcare products. Interested parties should submit their comments by 8 July 2007. To read the notification, click here.

COMP/M.4706: Superior Essex/Invex - manufacture and supply of wires for telecommunications, winding wires. Interested parties should submit their comments by 7 July 2007. To read the notification, click here.

COMP/M.4764: Debitel/Talkline - mobile and fixed line telephony, internet services, mobile telecommunications. Candidate for simplified procedure. Interested parties should submit their comments by 7 July 2007. To read the notification, click here.

Mergers - Second Phase Investigation

COMP/M.4525: Kronospan/Constantia - production and supply of raw particle board, coated particle board laminates, wood based and related products. Interested parties should submit their comments by 11 July 2007. To read the notification, click here.

Mergers Cleared

COMP/M.4674: KKR/Stefano Pessina/Alliance Boots - private equity investment, shareholder, Executive Deputy Chairman of Alliance Boots, wholesaling of pharmaceutical products, retailing of health and beauty products. To read the decision, click here.

COMP/M.4693: Veolia/Sulo - waste management services. To read the decision, click here.

COMP/M.4540: Nestlé/Novartis (Medical Nutrition Business) - food and beverages, healthcare nutritional products, related medical products. To read the press release, click here.

COMP/M.4599: RWE Power/Carbon/JV - energy, water, mining, commodities, waste disposal, projects to reduce green house gases, cement, concrete, real estate, tourism. To read the press release, click here.

COMP/M.4663: voestalpine/Böhler-Uddeholm - production and supply of carbon steel products, speciality steel products. To read the decision, click here.

Speeches

Andris Piebalgs speech: "East meets West: new Frontiers of Energy Security". To read the speech, click here.

Charlie McCreevy speech: "Challenges for EU supervisory arrangements in an increasingly global financial environment". To read the speech, click here.

Joe Borg speech: "A European Maritime Policy: An investment in the future of the oceans and seas". To read the speech, click here.

Joe Borg speech: "The future of ports - Part of our future vision for the Oceans and Seas". To read the speech, click here.

José Manuel Durão Barroso speech: "Speech on the results of the European Council of 21-23 June 2007". To read the speech, click here.

Margot Wallström speech: "Address to the Constitutional Affairs Committee on the Constitutional reform process". To read the speech, click here.

Neelie Kroes speech: "Competition Policy: Achievements in 2006; Work Programme in 2007; Priorities for 2008". To read the speech, click here.

Neelie Kroes speech: "How best to complete the Single European Market for energy?". To read the speech, click here.

Peter Mandelson speech: "Openness, trade and the European Union". To read the speech, click here.

Viviane Reding speech: "Self regulation applied to interactive games : success and challenges". To read the speech, click here.

State Aid

The European Commission has approved the regional aid map 2007-2013 for The Netherlands. To read the document, click here.

The European Commission has approved two Portuguese State Aid investments for the pulp and paper sector in Figueira da Foz. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has conditionally agreed the state guarantee to the Austrian Bank BAWAG-PSK. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has opened an investigation in the training Aid given to DHL Leipzig-Halle. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has published latest scoreboard analyses of harm done by illegal aid. To read the scoreboard, click here.

The European Commission has requested that Spain provide detailed information on the implementation of the ECJ ruling to recover illegal and incompatible fiscal aid granted to Basque companies in the 1990s. To read the press release, click here.

Public Procurement

The European Commission has closed its infringement cases against Finland, Italy and Slovenia relating to waste management services and implementation of public procurement directives. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against France to amend certain rules on tendering procedures and on communal services in local authorities. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against Italy in relation to breaches of public procurement implementation in four areas, computer and management consulting services, bookkeeping and debt collection, State prisons and waste management services. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has referred Germany to the ECJ over the procurement of group pension services by municipal authorities and undertakings. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has referred Germany to the ECJ regarding the award of rescue transport services in certain federal states and over contracts awarded by public broadcasting organisations. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has sent a further reasoned opinion to Spain for its failure to comply with the ECJ ruling on the awarding of health service contracts. To read the press release, click here.

Miscellaneous
The European Commission has launched a public consultation to help strengthen the global position of Europe's Information and Communication Technology industries by ensuring access to global markets. The consultation will run until 17 September 2007. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has announced that the new EU Roaming Regulations are now in force. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has adopted a communication establishing the EU's position on radio spectrum and the needs to be achieved at the World Radiocommunication Conference of the International Telecommunication Union. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has closed its infringement proceedings against the Czech Republish following the repealing of certain sections of its Competition Act. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has formally requested that Malta amend its monopoly for the import, storage and wholesale of petroleum products. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has closed its infringement proceedings against Luxembourg following the simplification of its telecommunications market. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has announced its intention to take Malta to the ECJ over discriminatory airport taxes. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has sent Spain a formal notice for its failure to comply with ECJ judgment over Maritime Cabotage. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission is to take Germany, Spain and Estonia to the ECJ for their failure to respect legislation on better availability and use of port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission is to take legal action against Italy regarding the waste crisis in the Campania region. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has announced that under the EU Telecom rules it will be proceeding with 15 infringement cases, closing 6 and suspending 1. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission is to take Germany to the ECJ over the implementation of its "regulatory holiday" law. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against France and Luxembourg for its failure to comply with Council Regulation of Community Design Courts and Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom for rental and lending rights. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has sent a reasoned opinion to Portugal regarding the free movement of capital, requesting them to abolish the special rights held by the Portuguese State in two energy companies: EDP and GALP Energia. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has sent reasoned opinions regarding obstacles to the free movement of sport betting services to France, Greece and Sweden:. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has sent reasoned opinions: to France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Sweden for failure to implement a Directive on the enforcement of IP rights; to Greece, Malta and Spain for failure to implement the Capital Requirements Directive; and to Spain for failure to implement the Public Procurement Directive. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has sent a reasoned opinion to Luxembourg and Ireland for failing to implement the security of supply of gas and electricity. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has adopted the 2006 Annual Report on Competition Policy. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has decided not to renew a Block Exemption Regulation that exempts IATA passenger tariff conferences concerning air routes between the EU and non-EU countries from the EC Treaty's ban on restrictive business practices. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has prohibited the proposed takeover of Aer Lingus by Ryanair. To read the press release, click here. and to the Neelie Kroes statement, click here. read the FAQ's, click here.

The European Commission has announced that from 1 July 2007 all EU citizens will be able to choose their gas and electricity suppliers with the exception of those states where it is not possible to introduce competition yet. To read the press release, click here.

 
UK Notifications & Publications
Consultations

Ofgem has opened a consultation into the Proposed Enforcement Guidelines on Complaints and Investigations. Interested parties should submit their comments by 3 September 2007. To read the consultation, click here.

ORR has opened a consultation into Market Study Prioritisation Criteria. Interested parties should submit their comments by 13 August 2007. To read the notification, click here.

CAT

Co-operative Group (CWS) Limited v Office of Fair Trading. The CAT has published its Transcript of Hearing. To read the transcript, click here.

VIP Communications Limited (in administration) v Office of Communications. The CAT has published its Order of the Tribunal. To read the Order, click here.

Competition Commission

Prosper de Mulder and William Forrest and Son (Paisley) Limited - animal waste. The Competition Commission has published its decision to release Undertakings given pursuant to section 88 Fair Trading Act 1973. To read the decision, click here.

The Competition Commission has announced its intention to open an investigation into the Home Credit Market. To read the Notice of Intention to Make an Order, click here. and to read the draft Order, click here. and to read the Explanatory Note, click here.

Mergers Invitation to Comment
IBA Health Limited/iSOFT Group plc - healthcare IT software. Interested parties should submit their comments by 10 July 2007. To read the notification, click here.
Miscellaneous

Ofcom has announced that it is to begins its assessment of the BT Undertakings. To read the press release, click here.

Ofcom has published a statement in relation to television channels required to provide television access services in 2008. To read the statement, click here.

Ofwat has published its annual report for 2006-07. To read the report, click here.