European Union News - Internal Market

The European Commission approved an aid programme for the acquisition and modernisation of rolling stock in the Czech Republic. The Czech Government is set to spend CZK 4,800 million (EUR 173 million) under this programme between 2008 and 2013.

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.

As part of  information from European Union institutions and Bodies, the EC has published notification of complete non-opposition to the concentration between Basell and Raffinerie de Berre L'Étang. On 4 February 2008, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market.

The European Commission has published a report on the actions undertaken on prevention of payment fraud between 2004 and 2007 following an Action Plan on this matter.

On 7 April 2008, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market.

The European Commission, on the 29th of April 2008, published notification of complete Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case COMP/M.4949 — Sonepar/Hagemeyer). On 8 February 2008, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market.

According to the report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliment on the operation of Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 of 19 July 2002 concerning the application of international accounting standards, 1, 731 companies apply international accounting standards.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published a Commission decision indication that they do not  oppose to a Joint Venture notified concentration and to declare it compatible with the common market.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published the final position of the European Commision in relation to the case of concentration between Syniverse and BSG group by way of purchase of shares.