European Union News - Industry

On the 16th May 2008, the European Commission published in the OJ prior notification of a concentration between Renolit, Evonik Degussa and Suncoat.

On 7 May 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration by which the undertaking Ineos Group Limited (‘Ineos’, United Kingdom) acquires control of a plant of the undertaking BASF plc, controlled by BASF SE (‘BASF’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of assets.

In the Official Jounral of the European Union (OJ), a decision dated the 7th of May 2008 has been published concerned with the setting up the High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Agro-Food Industry which will be functioning until the 1st November 2009.

The European Commission is sending nine Member States first written warnings for failing to issue new or updated permits for over 9,000 industrial installations already in operation across Europe. These Member States did not satisfactorily issue these permits by the 30 October 2007 deadline.

A Spanish student wanted to start her university studies in Belgium, but was refused because the original certified diploma of her secondary education had not been issued yet by the Spanish authorities. SOLVIT persuaded the university to accept other evidence so that she would not miss an entire academic year. A British manufacturer of marine radio equipment was asked by the German authorities to retest its products in Germany even though they had already been tested and placed on the market in other EU Member States. SOLVIT intervened to ensure that the products could be sold in Germany without costly retesting.

Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities has released its most current figures from the EA 15 adn EU27.

The European Commission published, in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ), on the 6th May 2008 a new Calls for Proposals under the ‘Capacities’ work programme of the 7th EC Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities. The budget for the calls for proposals is 20 million euros.

Under Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory, the European Commission published, on the 6th of May, its Commission Decision of 11 December 2007 on State Aid C 47/06 (ex N 648/05) Tax credit introduced by France for the creation of video games (notified under document number C(2007) 6070)

The European Commission published, on the 30th April 2008, a proposal for a Council descision authorising the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified LLCotton25 (ACS-GHØØ1-3).

The European Commission has adopted guidelines for State aid to railway undertakings. The guidelines clarify the rules governing public funding of these businesses. This is one way the Commission is boosting the liberalisation of the industry and ensuring that public funding contributes to sustainable mobility in Europe.

The Commission has expresed Non-opposition to the notified concentration between Renault, Russian Technologies and AvtoVaz. On 8 April 2008, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market.

The European Commission has adopted guidelines for State aid to railway undertakings. The guidelines clarify the rules governing public funding of these businesses. This is one way the Commission is boosting the liberalisation of the industry and ensuring that public funding contributes to sustainable mobility in Europe.