European Union News - 31 March 2008

Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 3.5% in March 2008 according to a flash estimate issued by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities. It was 3.3% in February.

On Sunday 30th March 2008, the new EU-US Air Transport Agreement took effect. For the first time, European airlines can fly without restrictions from any point in the EU to any point in the US. This agreement is the most ambitious air services deal ever negotiated. The two biggest aviation markets, encompassing 60% of world traffic, will cooperate closer in all fields of aviation policy. In May 2008, the European Commission will engage in second-stage negotiations with the US.

The European Parliment and Council of the European Union proposed, on the 28 March 2008 a “European Year of Creativity and Innovation” in 2009. The aim of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation shall be to support the efforts of the Member States to promote creativity, through lifelong learning, as a driver for innovation and as a key factor for the development of personal, occupational, entrepreneurial and social competences and the well-being of all individuals in society.

The European Commission, as part of procedures relating the implrementation of the competition policy, has released its official Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.5091 — Tech Data/Scribona) in the offical Journal.

On 19 March 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant by which the undertakings Tech Data AB (Sweden), Tech Data Norge (Norway) and Tech Data Finland Oy (Finland), which are wholly owned subsidiaries of Tech Data Corporation (United States of America, collectively ‘Tech Data’), would acquire control of the undertaking Scribona AB (publ) (‘Scribona’, Sweden) by way of purchase of assets.

The European Commission published its official decision on the 29th March 2008 concerning its conclusions, approving the Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Morocco on certain aspects of air services. Full details of the conclusion are availabe in the Offical Journal of the European Union.