EC opens 10 day consultation period on Spanish subsidiary from ACS, Dragados, acquisition of Polish builder Pol Acqua
According to the announcement of prior notification of a concentration published in the Official Journal of European Union on August 21st 2009, the Spanish Dragados, SA, filial of the group ACS, has informed the European Commission about the operation to acquire control over the Polish construction firm Pol-Aqua Group. Interested parties may submit their observations to the Commission in the ten days following the publication of this notice.
Read more …Specific rules on public procurement coordination in the field of security and defence
The special characteristics of the defence equipment market and its demands for security and confidentiality of the proceedings determine the need for specific rules governing the award of works, services and supplies related to that sector. According to these requirements, the OJEU has published on August 20th 2009, Directive 2009/81/EC on the coordination of procedures for the award of certain works contracts, supply contracts and service contracts by contracting authorities or entities in the fields of defence and security, and amending Directives 2004/17/EC and 2004/18/EC.
Read more …EC sets evaluation criteria on the return to viability and assessment of restructuring measures in the financial sector
The Commission has published in the OJEU on August 19th 2009, its Communication on the return to viability and the assessment of restructuring measures in the financial sector in the current crisis under the State aid rules. The Commissions explains how it will examine aid for the restructuring of banks in the current crisis, taking into account the need to modulate past practice in the light of the nature and the global scale of the crisis, the systemic role of the banking sector for the whole economy, and the systemic effects which may arise from the need of a number of banks to restructure within the same period.
Read more …EC opens 10 days consultation on Sanofi-aventis acquisition of Merck's interest in Merial
The Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) published on August 18th 2009 the notice of prior notification of concentration concerning French pharmaceutical Sanofi-Aventis, which would acquire control over Merial. Interested parties may submit their observations to the Commission within ten days of this publication.
Read more …New Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators
The Official Journal of the European Union of 14 August 2009 contains the Regulation on the European Parliament and the Council establishing an Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators.
Read more …EC clears acquisition of Delphi Corporation by Platinum Equity
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of mobile electronics and transportation systems manufacturer Delphi Corporation by the global investment company Platinum Equity LLC. After calling for observations comming from interested parties, Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition within the European Economic Area (EEA) or a substantial part of it.
Read more …Europeans increasingly turn to the ECC
The European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) handles over 62.000 contacts with EU consumers who turn to them for advice or for help with problems affecting cross-border shopping, both in person and online. The European Commission supports the network and has published the ECC-Net Annual Report for 2008, which saw a 22% increase in the number of Consumers turning to them directly for help. In 2008 most complaints tackled by ECCs concerned transport (33%, of which 80% related to air transport), recreational services (25%) and hotels and restaurants (13%).
Read more …EC sets up High Level Steering Group on SafeSeaNet
Following the measures adopted in the field of maritime safety, the European Commission has set up the High Level Steering Group on SafeSeaNet, whose creation has been published in the Official Journal of the EU on August 1st, 2009. Chaired by the European Commission and integrated by representatives from all Member States, the Group will support the development of SafeSeaNet system.
Read more …Final stage of EU wine reform enters into force
The final stage of the European Union wine reform, agreed by agriculture ministers in December 2007 , enters into force on 1 st August. The wide-ranging reform, the first stage of which applied from 1 st August last year, should bring balance to the wine market, phase out wasteful and expensive market intervention measures and allow the budget to be used for more positive, proactive measures which will boost the competitiveness of European wines.