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CR Focus 19th December

To visit the "Cartel Watch" section, click here.

European Notifications and Publications
Mergers Notified

Alfa Acciai/Cronimet/Remondis/TSR Group >>>more>>>

Lagardère/Sportfive >>>more>>>

Mergers Cleared

Plastic Omnium/Inopart >>>more>>>

Diehl/Thales/JV >>>more>>>

Deutsche Bank/Berliner Bank >>>more>>>

UCB/Schwarz Pharma >>>more>>>

Alcatel/Nortel Networks >>>more>>>

Swiss Re/GE Life >>>more>>>

Schmolz + Bickenbach/Swiss Steel >>>more>>>

Mergers Cleared - Subject to Conditions

Metso/Aker Kvaerner >>>more>>>

Final Reports of the Hearing Officer

SIEMENS/VA Tech >>>more>>>

Raw Tobacco Italy >>>more>>>

Rubber Chemicals >>>more>>>

Hydrogen Peroxide and Perborate >>>more>>>

Souris/Topps >>>more>>>

EFTA Surveillance Authority

Notice on informal guidance relating questions concerning Articles 53 and 54 of the EEA Agreement >>more>>>

Notice on co-operation between EFTA and the courts of the EFTA States relating to the application of Articles 53 and 54 of the EEA Agreement >>>more>>>

Values of thresholds in the field of public procurement >>>more>>>

State Aid

European Commission: Regulation to exempt aid notification below €200,000 >>>more>>>

Interview with Lowri Evans, Deputy Director General for State aid on "Delivering the State aid reform" >>>more>>>

Speeches

Peter Mandelson speech: "Trade Policy and Climate Change" >>>more>>>

Miscellaneous

European Commission: new measures supporting revitalisation of railway sector through Europe >>>more>>>

European Commission: exercise to identify and alleviate obstacles hindering smooth running of freight transport >>>more>>>

European Commission: dawn raids at German electricity companies >>>more>>>

European Commission: infringement proceedings against Italy to modify legislation restricting activities of companies involved gas and electricity distribution >>>more>>>

European Commission: infringement proceedings against France, Poland, Slovakia and Latvia to enforce EU telecom rules >>>more>>>

European Commission: issues proceedings against Austria, Greece, Germany and Poland for breaches of EU public procurement law >>>more>>>

European Commission: issues proceedings against Spain for breaches of EU public procurement law >>>more>>>

European Commission: statement relating to investigation into TFT/LCD industry >>>more>>>

European Commission: ECJ requested to impose fines on Italy and France for breach of EU environmental law >>>more>>>

European Commission: reasoned opinion to Malta regarding airport tax >>>more>>>

European Commission: action against Finland, Sweden and Portugal regarding the waste water treatment >>more>>>

European Commission: welcomes EU Parliament vote on new chemical legislation on reform of manufacturing, marketing, import and use of chemical substances >>>more>>>

European Commission: refers Greece to ECJ for failure to respect EU legislation in the context of the single European Sky >>>more>>>>
European Commission: takes Hungary to ECJ for failure to abolish restrictions on cable TV services >>>more>>>>
European Parliament: adopts proposal introduce tighter emissions limits on cars >>>more>>>>
 
UK Notifications & Publications
Consultations

Ofcom: Regulations in connection with the award of 1785 - 1805 MHz >>>more>>>

Ofgem: Independent Gas Transporters Network Code Governance >>>more>>>

Ofwat: Acquisition of AWG plc by Osprey Acquisitions Limited and the impact on Anglian Water Services Limited >>>more>>>

CAT

Albion Water Limited v Water Services Regulation Authority (formerly the Director General of Water Services)(Dr Cymru/Shotton Paper) >>>more>>>

Casting Book Limited v Office of Fair Trading >>>more>>>

Competition Commission

Wienerberger Finance Service BV/Baggeridge Brick plc >>>more>>>

Mergers Notified

Vanguard Car Rental EMEA Holdings Ltd/Europcar UK Limited >>>more>>>

Mergers Cleared

Irish News Ltd/Farm Week assets from Johnston Press plc >>>more>>>

Catlin Group Ltd/Wellington Underwriting plc >>>more>>>

Govia Limited (through its wholly owned subsidiary, North London Orbital Railway Limited)/the London Rail Concession >>>more>>>

Woolworths Group plc/AMP Enterprises Limited >>>more>>>

Mergers - Referred to the Competition Commission

Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited, a subsidiary of Thermo Electron Corporation/GV Instruments Limited >>>more>>>

Miscellaneous

Ofcom: own initiative investigation into the Post Office Limited - adherence to its Code of Practice governing sales and marketing activity >>>more>>>

Ofcom: regulatory statement in relation to Broadband migrations: enabling consumer choice >>>more>>>

Ofcom: terms of reference for review of regulation for premium rate services >>>more>>>

Ofgem: open letter invitation for Gas Distribution Price Control Seminar - 23 January 2007 >>>more>>>

Ofwat: letter to DTI relating to concurrent competition powers in sectoral regulation >>>more>>>

Ofwat: water and sewerage service unit costs and relative efficiency: 2005-06 report >>>more>>>

ORR: annual review of Network Rail's investment activity and consultant's report >>>more>>>

Postcomm: Government to consult on future of post offices >>>more>>>

 
European Notifications and Publications
Mergers Notified

COMP/M.4495: Alfa Acciai/Cronimet/Remondis/TSR Group - production of reinforcing steel, water and recycling management, raw materials for steel industry. Interested parties should submit their comments by 26 December 2006. To read the notification, click here.

COMP/M.4519: Lagardère/Sportfive - books, press, broadcasting, multimedia services, sports broadcasting rights, marketing. Candidate for simplified procedure. Interested parties should submit their comments by 23 December 2006. To read the notification, click here.

Mergers Cleared

COMP/M.4239: Plastic Omnium/Inopart - plastics for the automotive industry. To read the decision, click here.

COMP/M.4335: Diehl/Thales/JV - aerospace, security, defence. To read the decision, click here.

COMP/M.4356: Deutsche Bank/Berliner Bank - banking services. To read the press release, click here.

COMP/M.4402: UCB/Schwarz Pharma - Manufacture of aircraft and spacecraft. To read the decision, click here.

COMP/M.4451: Alcatel/Nortel Networks - communications networks, UMTS, RAN equipment. To read the decision, click here.

COMP/M.4452: Swiss Re/GE Life - life and reinsurance services. To read the decision, click here.

COMP/M.4455: Schmolz + Bickenbach/Swiss Steel - carbon steel and speciality steel products. To read the decision, click here.

Mergers Cleared - Subject to Conditions

COMP/M.4187: Metso/Aker Kvaerner - development and manufacture of machinery including pulping machinery and machine systems to the chemical pulp industry. To read the decision, click here.

Final Reports of the Hearing Officer

COMP/M.3653: SIEMENS/VA Tech. To read the report, click here. To read the document referred to therein, click here and to read the opinion of the advisory committee, click here.

COMP/38.281/B.2: Raw Tobacco Italy. To read the report, click here. To read the document referred to therein, click here.and to read the opinion of the advisory committee, click here. and click here.

COMP/C.38.443: Rubber Chemicals. To read the report, click here. To read the document referred to therein, click here. and to read the opinion of the advisory committee, click here. and click here.

COMP/C.38.620: Hydrogen Peroxide and Perborate. To read the report, click here To read the document referred to therein, click here. and to read the opinion of the advisory committee, click here. and click here.

COMP/C-3/37.980: Souris/Topps. To read the report, click here. To read the document referred to therein, click here.and to read the opinions of the advisory committee, click here. and click here.

EFTA Surveillance Authority

EFTA has published a notice on informal guidance relating to novel questions concerning Articles 53 and 54 of the EEA Agreement that arise in individual cases (guidance letters). To read the document, click here.

EFTA has published a notice on the co-operation between the EFTA Surveillance Authority and the courts of the EFTA States relating to the application of Articles 53 and 54 of the EEA Agreement. To read the document, click here.

EFTA has published the values of thresholds in the field of public procurement. To read the thresholds, click here.

State Aid

The European Commission has adopted a Regulation to exempt aid notification below €200,000. To read the press release, click here. and to read the frequently asked questions, click here.

Interview with Lowri Evans, Deputy Director General for State aid on "Delivering the State aid reform". To read the interview, click here.
Speeches
Peter Mandelson speech: "Trade Policy and Climate Change". To read the speech, click here.
Miscellaneous

The European Commission has adopted new measures to support the revitalisation of the railway sector across Europe. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has begun an exercise to identify and alleviate obstacles which hinder the smooth running of freight transport. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has carried out dawn raids at several German electricity companies. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against Italy in relation to modifying its legislation restricting the activities of companies involved in gas and electricity distribution. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against France, Poland, Slovakia and Latvia to enforce EU telecom rules. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has issued proceedings against Austria, Greece, Germany and Poland for breaches of EU public procurement law. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has issued proceedings against Spain for breaches of EU public procurement law. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has published a statement in relation to investigation into on the TFT/LCD industry. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has requested that the ECJ impose fines on Italy and France over breaches of EU environmental law. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has sent a reasoned opinion to Malta regarding airport tax. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission is to take action against Finland, Sweden and Portugal regarding the waste water treatment. To read the press release, click here.

The European Commission has welcomed the EU Parliament vote on the new chemical legislation bringing three years of negotiation on a comprehensive reform of manufacturing, marketing, import and use of chemical substances. To read the press release, click here. and to read the Q&A page, click here.

The European Commission is to refer Greece to the ECJ for its failure to respect EU legislation in the context of the single European Sky. To read the press release, click here.
The European Commission is to take Hungary to ECJ for its failure to abolish restrictions on cable TV services. To read the press release, click here.
The European Parliament has adopted the proposal to gradually introduce tighter emissions limits on cars. To read the press release, click here.
 
UK Notifications & Publications
Consultations

Ofcom has opened a consultation into its proposal to make regulations in connection with the award of 1785 - 1805 MHz, together with a regulatory statement regarding the same. Interested parties should submit their comments by 19 January 2006. To read the consultation, click here. and to read the statement, click here. to the press release, click here.

Ofgem has opened a consultation into Independent Gas Transporters Network Code Governance. Interested parties should submit their comments by 2 February 2007. To read the consultation, click here.

Ofwat have opened a consultation into The acquisition of AWG plc by Osprey Acquisitions Limited and its impact on Anglian Water Services Limited. Interested parties should submit their comments by 26 January 2007. To read the consultation, click here. and to read the press release, click here.

CAT

Albion Water Limited v Water Services Regulation Authority (formerly the Director General of Water Services)(Dr Cymru/Shotton Paper). The CAT has published its judgment on dominance and other issues. To read the judgment, click here.

Casting Book Limited v Office of Fair Trading. The CAT has published its judgment on admissibility. To read the judgment, click here. and to read the press release, click here.

Competition Commission

Wienerberger Finance Service BV/Baggeridge Brick plc - clay bricks. Interested parties should submit their comments by 8 January 2006. To read the press release, click here.

Mergers Notified

Vanguard Car Rental EMEA Holdings Ltd/Europcar UK Limited - car rental market. Interested parties should submit their comments by 2 January 2007. To read the notification, click here.

Mergers Cleared

Irish News Ltd/Farm Week assets from Johnston Press plc - publications. To read the decision, click here.

Catlin Group Ltd/Wellington Underwriting plc - insurance and reinsurance. To read the decision, click here.

Govia Limited (through its wholly owned subsidiary, North London Orbital Railway Limited)/the London Rail Concession - rail. To read the decision, click here.

Woolworths Group plc/AMP Enterprises Limited - other retail sale in non-specialised stores. To read the decision, click here.

Mergers - Referred to the Competition Commission

Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited,a subsidiary of Thermo Electron Corporation/GV Instruments Limited - mass spectrometers. To read the press release, click here.

Miscellaneous

Ofcom has opened its own initiative investigation into the Post Office Limited - adherence to its Code of Practice governing sales and marketing activity. To read the investigation, click here.

Ofcom has published a regulatory statement in relation to Broadband migrations: enabling consumer choice. To read the statement, click here and to read the press release, click here.

Ofcom has published the terms of reference for its review of regulation for premium rate services. To read the terms, click here.

Ofgem has published an open letter invitation regarding the Gas Distribution Price Control Seminar - 23 January 2007. To read the letter, click here.

Ofwat has published a letter sent to the DTI in relation to concurrent competition powers in sectoral regulation. To read the letter, click here.

Ofwat has published its water and sewerage service unit costs and relative efficiency: 2005-06 report together with the annexes. To read the report, click here. and to read the annex, click here. and to read the press release, click here.

ORR has published its annual review of Network Rail's investment activity and accompanying consultant's report. To read the document, click here.

Postcomm has reported that the Government is to consult on the future of post offices. To read the press release, click here.