Boeing and Airbus: Litigation and negotiation not mutually exclusive >>>more>>>

Commission closes investigation in gas supply contracts >>>more>>>

European Commission: Gas supply and electricity sectors investigation >>> more >>>

Vereniging voor Energie, Milieu en Water and Others v Directeur van de Dienst uitvoering en toezicht energie: ECJ on priority access . >>> more >>>

Mergers notified to the European Commission

European mergers - Requests for comments >>>more>>>

Barclays/ Iveco/ JV >>> more >>>

Nordic Capital/ Leaf INT >>> more >>>

TPG/APAX/TIM Hellas >>> more >>>

Cinven/ France Telecom Cable - NC Numericable >>> more >>>

Vodafone/ Oskar Mobile >>> more >>>

Nordic Capital/ Outokumpu Copper Products >>>more>>>

European Commission: State Aid Action Plan consultation >>>more>>

European Commission: Shetland Leasing and Property Ltd aid investigation >>>more>>

European Commission: Conditional approval of Alitalia recapitalisations >>>more>>

European Commission: Approval of "Chaîne française d'information internationale" aid >>>more>>

European Commission: Approval of Northern Irish Language Broadcast Fund >>>more>>

European Commission: Approval of Solvay Soda aid >>>more>>

European Commission: "i2010: European Information Society 2010" initiative >>>more>>>

European Commission: France's aid measures for Alstom > >>more>>>

ERG: Wholesale bitstream access and broadband market competition >>>more>>>

CAT: Hutchison 3G (UK) Limited v Office of Communications, transcripts > >> more >>>

Otis Ltd/ Excelsior Lifts Ltd >>> more >>>

Ofcom: Response to Green Paper on BBC Royal Charter >>>more>>>

Ofwat: Annual Report 2004-5 >>>more>>>

In the News

Boeing and Airbus: Litigation and negotiation not mutually exclusive
EU Business reports that, despite the initiation of WTO proceedings, the US still remains open to negotiations with the EU over the Boeing and Airbus aid. To read the news article, click here. EU Business also reports that the European Aeronautic Space and Defence Company (EADS) has offered to drop the aids European governments so as to revive the negotiations. To read the news article, click here. The European Commission has said that there is no reason for the EU to stop aid to Airbus. To read the news article, click here.
The FT reports that the US Bush administration has greeted the statements by EADS, the parent company of Airbus as to its termination of "launch aid" to Airbus. The latter were made in contemplation of a settlement between the US and the EU that would also terminate the Boeing subsidies. (Source: FT, 13 June 2005)

Commission closes investigation in gas supply contracts
The European Commission has closed its investigation into the gas supply contracts between the German gas company Ruhrgas and the Russian gas producer Gazprom, further to the removal of clauses that raised Art. 81 concerns. To read the press release, click here.

EU Notifications & Publications

The European Commission has initiated competition investigations in the gas and electricity sectors, as it is felt that the consumers have not been granted the full benefit of liberalisation. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has initiated investigations in the financial services sector, in retail banking and business insurance, to examine the extent to which the markets are sufficiently competitive. To read the press release, click here.

The European Regulators Group (ERG) has adopted a Common Position on Wholesale International Roaming (WIR). Interested parties should submit their comments by 15 July 2005. To read the common position, click here. To read the press release, click here.

Case C-17/03: Vereniging voor Energie, Milieu en Water and Others v. Directeur van de Dienst uitvoering en toezicht energie. The ECJ concluded that the grant of priority access to the cross-border electricity transmission network to an undertaking, constitutes discriminatory treatment. In addition, the Court found that the fact that the undertaking, formerly holding the monopoly in the Netherlands, had concluded long-term contracts did not justify the discrimination. To read the press release, click here.

COMP/M.3839: Access Industries/ Basell - coal, aluminum, power and telecommunication sectors, and manufacture and sale of polyolefins and related compounds. Interested parties should submit their comments by 17 June 2005. To read the notification, click here.

COMP/M.3840: CVC/ Cortefiel - investment fund and clothing and related merchandise. Interested parties should submit their comments by 17 June 2005. To read the notification, click here.

COMP/M.3843: Macquarie/ CDPQ/ YBR Group - financial services, funds, telephone directories. Candidate for simplified procedure. Interested parties should submit their comments by 18 June 2005. To read the OJ notification, click here.

COMP/ M.3804: Continental/ Xtra Print - rubber products and printing blankets. Interested parties should submit their comments by 18 June 2005. To read the OJ notification, click here.

COMP/M.3732: Procter & Gamble/ Gillette - manufacturing of consumer goods and products. Interested parties should submit their comments by 18 June 2005. To read the OJ notification, click here.

COMP/M.3836: Goldman Sachs/ Pirelli cavi e sistemi energia/Pirell cavi e sistemi telecom - banking and cables. Candidate case for simplified procedure. Interested parties should submit their comments by 19 June 2005. To read the OJ notification, click here.

COMP/M.3833: 3i SGR/ Giochi Preziosi - private equity and toys. Candidate case for simplified procedure. Interested parties should submit their comments by 19 June 2005. To read the OJ notification, click here.

COMP/M.3844: IBM Italia/ Global Value - information technology. Candidate case for simplified procedure. Interested parties should submit their comments by 19 June 2005. To read the OJ notification, click here.

COMP/M.3696: E.ON/ MOL - energy and gas. Interested parties should submit their comments by 19 June 2005. To read the OJ notification, click here.

COMP/M. 3852: Hyundai Motor Company/ Hyundai Car UK Ltd: manufacturing and distribution of motor vehicles and spare parts. Candidate case for simplified procedure. Interested parties should submit their comments by 20 July 2005. To read the OJ notification, click here.

COMP/M.3849: IPR/Mitsui/ Calpine UK - generation of electricity. Candidate case for simplified procedure. Interested parties should submit their comments by 21 June 2005. To read the OJ reference, click here.

TPG IV/ British Vita - synthetic elastomers and polymer-based foams. Cleared by the Commission. To read the press release, click here.

Goldman, Sachs & Co/ Euramax International, Inc. - banking and products for the building, construction and car industries. Cleared by the Commission. To read the press release, click here.

COMP/M.3793: Barclays/ Iveco/ JV. Cleared by the Commission. To read the OJ reference, click here.

COMP/M.3766: Nordic Capital/ Leaf INT. Cleared by the Commission. To read the OJ reference, click here.

COMP/M.3595: Sony/ MGM. Cleared by the Commission in Phase I. To read the OJ reference, click here.

COMP/M.3680: Alcatel/Finmeccanica/ Alcatel Alenia Space & Telespazio. Cleared by the Commission with conditions. To read the OJ reference, click here.

COMP/M.3785:TPG/APAX/TIM Hellas. Cleared by the Commission in Phase I. To read the OJ reference, click here.

COMP/M.3609: Cinven/ France Telecom Cable - NC Numericable. Cleared by the Commission in Phase I. To read the OJ reference, click here.

COMP/M.3776: Vodafone/ Oskar Mobile. Cleared by the Commission in Phase I. To read the OJ reference, click here.

COMP/M.3788: Nordic Capital/ Outokumpu Copper Products. Cleared by the Commission in Phase I. To read the OJ reference, click here.

Telefónica/ Ceský Telecom. Cleared by the Commission in Phase I. To read the press release, click here.

Fortune Brands/ Allied Domecq - spirits and wines. The Commission has approved the acquisition of certain brands and assets of Allied Domecq and Pernod Ricard SA. To read the press release, click here.

The Commission has issued a State Aid Action Plan, in which it outlines the principles for the reform of state aid rules and procedure to take place over the next five years. Interested parties should submit their comments by 15 September 2005. To read the press release, click here. To read the Action plan click here.

Neelie Kroes speech, on The State Aid Action Plan, Introductory remarks at open meeting of coordinators of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, European Parliament Strasbourg, 7 June 2005. To read the speech, click here.

The European Commission has initiated an investigation into an alleged illegal state aid by Shetland Leasing and Property Ltd (SLAP), wholly owned and funded by Charitable Trust, a trust fund of the Shetland Islands Council (SIC). Interested parties should submit their comments by 10 July 2005. To read the OJ reference, click here.

The European Commission has conditionally approved the recapitalisations of Alitalia provided the conditions are strictly complied. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has approved the aid for the future "Chaîne française d'information internationale" (international news channel CFII), that will competed with BBC and CNN, as a project of general economic interest. It has found that the risk of distortion of competition had been sufficiently addressed. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has approved aid for the Northern Irish Language Broadcast Fund in the United Kingdom. The objective of the Fund is to encourage television and film output in Ireland and so falls under the EC State aids rules for the promotion of culture. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has approved state aid to Solvay Soda GmbH (SSD) in Germany, to reduce pollution of the river Rhine. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has adopted the initiative "i2010: European Information Society 2010" initiative. This was adopted on 1 June 2005, and aims to foster growth and jobs in the information society and media industries, in particular, regulation, research and partnerships in the digital economy. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has published the decision of 7 July 2004 relating to France's aid measures for Alstom. To read the decision, click here.

The European Regulators Group (ERG) has published a Revised Common Position on wholesale bitstream access, and a broadband market competition report. To read the common position, click here. To read the report, click here.

Ofcom has published a proposal to extend the duration of the controls on the charges that O2, Orange and T-Mobile may levy on the 2G mobile voice call termination market, to another 12 months, until 31 March 2007. Ofcom is also consulting on the type of regulation that should be in place after March 2007. Interested parties should submit their comments for both proposals, by 30 August 2005. To read the press release, click here. 20050607 To read the charge consultation document, click here. To read the general regulation consultation document, click here.

Ofcom: The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services ("ICSTIS") has filed a complaint against Coulomb Limited, for alleged failure to comply with its Directions. Under the premium rate services condition, made by Ofcom under Section 120 of the Communications Act 2003, Communication Providers must comply with Directions given by ICSTIS. Ofcom will be examining the matter further. To read the press release, click here.

Ofcom has received an application for the BSS filing at the orbital position of 33.5º West. Interested parties should submit their comments by 1 July 2005. To read the press release, click here.

Ofcom has published four applications for FM Local Radio Licences for Swindon. Interested parties should submit their comments. To read the press release, click here. To read the applications, click here.

Ofcom has awarded a new FM commercial radio licence for Norwich, Manchester and Ballymena. To read the corresponding press releases, click here, and here, and here.

The ORR has published a consultation document on its proposed framework for the monitoring and treatment of underspend and efficiency. To read the consultation document, click here.

The CAT has published the transcripts of the main hearings dated 23 -26 May 2005, in Hutchison 3G (UK) Limited v Office of Communications. To read the 23 May transcript, click here. To read the 24 May transcript, click here. To read the 25 May transcript, click here. To read the 26 May transcript, click here.

Microsoft Corporation/ Sybari Software Inc - security software. Notified to the OFT. Interested parties should submit their comments by 17 June 2005. To read the notification, click here.

Go-Ahead Group plc/ Southern Vectis plc - passenger bus transport. Notified to the OFT. Interested parties should submit their comments by 17 June 2005. To read the notification, click here.

Asda Stores Limited/ 12 former Safeway stores in Northern Ireland from Wm Morrison plc - grocery retailing. Notified to the OFT. Interested parties should submit their comments by 20 June 2005. To read the press release, click here.

Cadbury Schweppes plc/ Green & Black's Limited - chocolate confectionery, hot chocolate drinks. Completed acquisition investigated by the OFT. Interested parties should submit their comments 23 June 2005. To read the notification, click here.

Red Football Limited/ Cubic Expression Company Limited's interest in Manchester United plc - football. Completed acquisition investigated by the OFT. Interested parties should submit their comments 24 June 2005. To read the notification, click here.

ITV plc/ SDN Limited - multiplexes for digital terrestrial television. Completed acquisition investigated by the OFT. Interested parties should submit their comments 24 June 2005. To read the notification, click here.

Otis Ltd/ Excelsior Lifts Ltd - lifts / elevators. Cleared by the OFT. To read the press release, click here.

Alphyra Holdings/ PostTS UK Limited/ An Post Transaction Services S.A.U. - electronic payment systems. Found not to qualify. To read the decision, click here.

E.ON UK Plc/ Economy Power Limited - supply of electricity. Cleared by the OFT. To read the decision, click here.

Giant Bidco Limited/ Big Food Group plc: retailing and wholesaling of food products. Cleared by the OFT. To read the decision, click here.

Danaher Corporation/ LEM Instruments from LEM Holdings SA: power quality analysers and electrical testing and measurement instruments. Cleared by the OFT. To read the decision, click here.

Cooltrader Acquisitions Limited/ Cooltrader (Holdings) Limited: grocery retailing. Found not to qualify by the OFT. To read the decision, click here.

Ofcom has published its response to the Government's Green Paper on the Review of the BBC Royal Charter. It requests a number of measures from the government, in order to ensure a wide range of suppliers for public service programming and content. To read the press release, click here. To read the review, click here.

Ofcom has published a Statement, reviewing the ITV Networking Arrangements, which coordinate the national television service so that it competes with other broadcasters. To read the statement, click here.

Ofcom has published its Digital Television Update for the first quarter of 2005, examining the digital television penetration in the UK. To read the press release, click here.

Ofcom has published the Wholesale Mobile Voice Call Termination Update, making amendments to the April 2002 LRIC model. To read the press release, click here.

Robin Foster (Strategy & Market Developments, Ofcom) speech, on Competition and the Public Interest: A More Transparent Approach - A Paper for the OECD/Ofcom Roundtable on Communications Convergence, 2 June 2005. To read the speech, click here.

Ofcom has published a speech by Millie Banerjee on Spectrum Management. To read the speech, click here.

The OFT has published a summary of the SSL International plc case over a suspected excessive pricing in the supply of contraceptive sheaths, that was closed in May 2005. To read the case summary, click here.

Whitbread Plc/ Marriott International Inc: hotels. The OFT has published the full version of its decision. To read the press release and find the link to the decision, click here.

Kaupthing Holdings UK Limited/ Singer and Friedlander Group plc: banking and financial services. The OFT has published the full version of its decision. To read the decision, click here.

Ofgem has published a review of its regulatory impact assessments (RIAs). It has also published Revised Guidance as to how it will conduct RIAs. To read the review, click here. To read the guidance, click here.

The ORR has published the Office of Rail Regulation Annual Report 2004-5. To read the press release, click here. To read the report, click here.

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