European Union News - Internal Market

On the 23rd June 2008 the European Commission published in the Official Journal Prior notification of a concentration between Stena and Ballingslöv.

Just published in the Official Journal of the European Union, is Prior notification of a concentration between Altor Fund II Equity Partners and Akers Group.

EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva announced on the 20th June 2008, the results of a new EU wide survey on e-commerce and cross border trade. The figures show that even though e-commerce is taking off at national level, cross-border e-commerce is failing to keep pace. From 2006 to 2008, the share of all EU consumers that have bought at least one item over the internet has increased significantly (from 27% to 33%) whilst cross border e-commerce is stable (6% to 7%). The pattern is similar for those with internet access at home - 56% of consumers with internet at home have made a purchase (in any country including their own) by e-commerce compared to 50% in 2006, while only 13% (of those with internet access at home) made a cross-border e-commerce purchase compared to 12% in 2006.

On 2 April 2008, the Commission decided not to oppose the between Bridgepoint and Pret a Manger. The EC also declare it
compatible with the common market.

According to the most recent figures In the construction sector from Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, the seasonally adjusted production fell by 0.8% in the euro area (EA15) and by 0.4% in the EU27 in April 2008, compared with the previous month. In March, production decreased by 2.8% and 2.7% respectively. Compared with April 2007, output in April 2008 dropped by 2.4% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27.

On 10 June 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration between Dupont and Danisco by which the undertakings E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (‘DuPont’, USA) and Danisco U.S., Inc. (‘Danisco’, USA) which is controlled by Danisco A/S (Denmark) acquire joint control of the undertaking DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC (‘DDCE’, USA) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

On 9th June 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration by which the undertaking Northern States Agency, Inc. (‘Northern States’, USA) controlled by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (‘Berkshire Hathaway’, USA) and the undertaking Münchener Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG (‘Munich Re’, Germany) acquire joint control of the undertaking Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers Limited (‘GAUM’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares.

The European Commission has agreed in principle on the contents of an emergency package of measures to tackle the immediate social and economic hardship triggered by the dramatic rise in the price of oil while also tackling the underlying structural problems of the European fleet. The main measures will consist of temporary derogations to the rules of the European Fisheries Fund so as to support faster adaptation of the EU fleet to the present situation and provide temporary relief during the transitional phase. European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Joe Borg will present the elements of this package at the Council of Fisheries Ministers in Luxembourg on 24 June, and the Commission plans to adopt a formal proposal on this subject early in July.

According to Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, the first estimate from for the euro area1 (EA15) trade balance with the rest of the world in April 2008 gave a 2.3 bn euro surplus, compared with +2.0 bn in April 2007. The March 20082 balance was -1.5 bn, compared with +7.5 bn in March 2007. In April 2008 compared with March 2008, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 6.2% and imports by 3.6%.

The first estimate for the April 2008 extra-EU271 trade balance was a deficit of 15.4 bn euro, compared with -12.9 bn in April 2007. In March 20082, the balance was -20.8 bn, compared with -10.5 bn in March 2007. In April 2008 compared with March 2008, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 5.1% and imports by 1.4%.

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