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CR Focus 15th July 2008
European Notifications and Publications
European Courts

CFI dismisses majority of actions brought by participants of plasterboard cartel against Commission decision >>>more>>>

CFI upholds Commission decision in relation to organic peroxide cartel >>>more>>>

Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane SpA v Commission >>>more>>>

Sony BMG v Commission >>>more>>>

Mergers Invitations to Comment

Thomas Cook France/Jet Tours >>>more>>>

Mergers - Initiation of Proceedings

BHP Billiton/Rio Tinto >>>more>>>

Mergers Cleared - Subject to Conditions

Lesaffre/GBI UK >>>more>>>

Mergers Cleared

Tech Data/Scribona >>>more>>>

State Aid

France/SNCM >>>more>>>

Slovak aid to Bratislava airport and Ryanair >>>more>>>

Speeches

Neelie Kroes speech: "General Block Exemption Regulation for State Aid" >>>more>>>

Neelie Kroes speech: "New developments in EU State Aid Policy" >>>more>>>

Miscellaneous

Hungary and Romania's agreement connecting gas systems welcomed by Commission >>>more>>>

EC publishes Internal Market Scoreboard >>>more>>>

 

UK Notifications & Publications
Consultation

Ofcom: "Review of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Complaints Handling Procedures" >>>more>>>

Ofcom: "Review of the wholesale very high bandwidth traditional interface symmetric broadband origination markets" >>>more>>>

Competition Commission

Annual Report 2007/08 >>>more>>>

Domestic bulk liquefied petroleum gas investigation - Notice of intention to make an Order (standard domestic installations), explanatory note and response to consultation >>>more>>>

Mergers Referred to the Competition Commission

BBC Worldwide Limited, Channel Four Television Corporation/ITV plc (Project Kangaroo) - video on demand >>>more>>>

Mergers Cleared

Universal Music Publishing Limited/Big Life Music Limited >>>more>>>

Miscellaneous

OFT reports tobacco cartel participants agree penalties after admitting collusion over pricing >>>more>>>

Ofcom imposes fine on Square 1 Management Ltd in respect of Smile TV for breach of Broadcasting Code >>>more>>>

Ofcom publishes Digital Television Update - 2008 Q1 >>>more>>>

 
European Notifications and Publications
European Courts

CFI dismisses majority of actions brought by four participants of a plasterboard cartel against a Commission decision of November 2002 upholding the fines imposed on all but one participant. To read the press release, click here and to read the judgment, click here.

CFI upholds Commission decision of December 2003 in relation to an organic peroxide cartel. To read the press release, click here and to read the judgment, click here.

Case T-301/01: Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane SpA v Commission. The CFI has dismissed Alitalia's claims and upheld Commission decision of December 2001 in relation to the application of State Aid. To read the judgment, click here.

Case C/413/06 P - Sony BMG v Commission. The ECJ has published its decision overturning the CFI's finding that the Commission had provided an inadequate statement of objections in its merger investigation. The CFI placed too high an investigatory standard on the Commission. To read the judgment, click here.

Mergers Invitations to Comment

COMP/M.5234: Thomas Cook France/Jet Tours - department stores, tourism, travel. Candidate for simplified procedure. Interested parties should submit their comments by 20 July 2008. To read the notification, click here.

Mergers - Initiation of Proceedings

COMP/M.4985: BHP Billiton/Rio Tinto - resources and mining companies. Interested parties should submit their comments by 26 July 2008. To read the notice, click here.

Mergers Cleared - Subject to Conditions

COMP/M.5020: Lesaffre/GBI UK - yeast and breadmaking products, baking products and bakeries. To read the press release, click here.

Mergers Cleared

COMP/M.5091: Tech Data/Scribona - distribution of IT products in Americas and Europe. To read the decision, click here.

State Aid

France/SNCM: The Commission held that a cash injection to SNCM notified in 2002 did not amount to unlawful state aid. Further, measures adopted by France in 2006 reflected the actions of a well-informed investor and did not constitute state aid. To read the press release, click here.

Aid No: C 12/08 (ex NN 74/07) - Slovak aid in relation to an agreement between Bratislava airport and Ryanair. Interested parties should submit their comments by 2 August 2008. To read the notification, click here.

Speeches

Neelie Kroes speech: "General Block Exemption Regulation for State Aid". To read the speech, click here.

Neelie Kroes speech: "New developments in EU State Aid Policy". To read the speech, click here.

Miscellaneous

Commissioner Pielbags has welcomed Hungary and Romania's agreement connecting their gas systems which will not be dependent on a third country supply. This pipeline is to follow the Arad - Szeged route. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has published the Internal Market Scoreboard, announcing that Member States have performed better in implementing new legislation. To read the press release, click here.

 
UK Notifications & Publications
Consultation

Ofcom has opened a consultation into a "Review of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Complaints Handling Procedures". Interested parties should submit their comments by 4 October 2008. To read the consultation, click here and here.

Ofcom has opened a consultation into a "Review of the wholesale very high bandwidth traditional interface symmetric broadband origination markets". Interested parties should submit their comments by 12 August 2008. To read the consultation, click here.

Competition Commission

The Competition Commission has published its Annual Report for 2007/08. To read the report, click here and here.

The Competition Commission has published the Notice of intention to make an Order (standard domestic installations), explanatory note and response to consultation published in the Domestic bulk liquefied petroleum gas investigation. To read the documents, click here, here and here.

Mergers Referred to the Competition Commission

BBC Worldwide Limited, Channel Four Television Corporation/ITV plc (Project Kangaroo) - video on demand. Full text of the merger referral decision published (decision announced on 30 June 2008). To read the OFT decision, click here. To see the Competition Commission "Project Kangaroo" inquiry page, click here.

Mergers Cleared

Universal Music Publishing Limited/Big Life Music Limited - UK music publishing. To read the decision, click here.

Miscellaneous

OFT reports six companies involved in a tobacco cartel have agreed penalties after admitting collusion over prices. To read the press release, click here.

Ofcom has imposed a fine of £17,500 on Square 1 Management Ltd in respect of Smile TV for breaching Ofcom's Broadcasting Code. To read the press release, click here and click here.

Ofcom has published the Digital Television Update - 2008 Q1. To read the update, click here and here.