Tag Archives: Joaquin Almunia

The European Commission announced it fined 8 international banks € 1.71 billion for financial derivatives cartels within the European Economic Area

Brussels, Belgium, 05-12-2013 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Commission has fined 8 international financial institutions a total of € 1 712 468 000 for participating in illegal cartels in markets for financial derivatives covering the European Economic Area (EEA). Four of these … Read the full press release

Proposed acquisition of Life Technologies Corp. by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. cleared under the EU Merger Regulation

Brussels, Belgium, 26-11-2013 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Life Technologies Corp. by rival Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., both US-based companies active in life science markets. Their activities overlap in the supply … Read the full press release

France aid granted to ALSTOM and RATP joint subsidiary METROLAB is in line with EU State aid rules

Brussels, Belgium, 20-11-2013 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Commission has decided that aid granted by France to ALSTOM and the Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP) – through their joint subsidiary METROLAB – for the implementation of the research and development (R&D) … Read the full press release

The European Commission to probe the planned chlorvinyls joint venture by Solvay and INEOS

Brussels, Belgium, 5-11-2013 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether the planned combination of the European chlorvinyls businesses of INEOS of Switzerland and Solvay of Belgium into a newly created joint venture was in line … Read the full press release

The European Commission found Greek state aid to four gas infrastructure projects in line with EU state aid rules

Brussels, Belgium, 16-10-2013 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Commission has found that aid to four projects aimed at improving and expanding the Greek gas network complies with EU state aid rules. These projects aim at increasing the gas transmission capacity and security … Read the full press release

EC: Calabria bus services company Simet SpA is not entitled to public service compensation under EU state aid rules

Brussels, Belgium, 02-10-2013 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Commission has concluded that a planned monetary compensation in favour of Simet SpA, which provides bus services to and from Calabria, is incompatible with EU state aid rules. By a judgment of March 2010, … Read the full press release

EC approves €20.5M state aid granted by France to Renault for diesel hybrid commercial vehicles research

Brussels, Belgium, 02-10-2013 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Commission has decided that the aid granted by France to the motor vehicle manufacturer Renault to help it conduct the ‘HYDIVU’ research and development programme complies with the EU rules on state aid. The … Read the full press release

The European Commission clears Austrian authorities plan to orderly wind down the Austrian bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria (HGAA)

03-9-2013 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Commission has approved a plan to orderly wind down the Austrian bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria (HGAA). The Commission found that the plan presented by the Austrian authorities is compatible with EU state aid rules. Together … Read the full press release

France’s €571.9M restructuring aid granted to PSA Peugeot Citroën group has been approved by the European Commission

30-7-2013 — /EuropaWire/ — Following an in-depth investigation (see IP/13/392), the European Commission has concluded that restructuring aid of EUR 571.9 million granted by France to the PSA group is compatible with the internal market. In particular, the updated structuring plan will help to restore … Read the full press release

Greece referred to European Court of Justice for failure to recover incompatible aid

18-7-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has referred Greece to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for failing to comply with two distinct Commission decisions that ordered Greece to recover incompatible state aid from three Greek casinos (see IP/11/635) and from … Read the full press release

Support granted by Latvia to Latvian Mortgage and Land Bank found in line with EU state aid rules

17-7-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has found support granted by Latvia for the transformation of the Latvian Mortgage and Land Bank (MLB) to be in line with EU state aid rules. In particular, the sale of MLB’s commercial assets … Read the full press release

EC approved Swedish scheme to subsidise combined work-and-training contracts for young workers under EU State aid rules

5-7-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has authorised a Swedish scheme to subsidise combined work-and-training contracts for young workers aged 15 to 24 (Vocational Introduction Employment) under EU State aid rules. The measure will contribute to the fight against youth … Read the full press release

EC to investigate Polish public funding of former military airport Gdynia-Kosakowo Poland

4-7-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to verify whether Polish plans to fund the conversion of the former military airport Gdynia-Kosakowo (Poland) into a civil aviation airport are in line with EU state aid … Read the full press release

EC to investigate some of the world’s largest investment banks over anti-competitive agreements in the credit derivatives business

1-7-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has informed some of the world’s largest investment banks of its preliminary conclusion that they infringed EU antitrust rules that prohibit anti-competitive agreements by colluding to prevent exchanges from entering the credit derivatives business … Read the full press release

EC fines Danish pharmaceutical company Lundbeck over anticompetitive agreements

Brussels, 20-6-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has imposed a fine of € 93,8 million on Danish pharmaceutical company Lundbeck and fines totalling € 52,2 million on several producers of generic medicines. In 2002, Lundbeck agreed with each of these … Read the full press release

The European Commission Guidelines to Member States on regional aid 2014-2020

Brussels, 19-6-2013 — /europawire.eu/ —  The European Commission has adopted guidelines on how Member States can grant investment aid to companies in order to support the development of disadvantaged regions in Europe between 2014 and 2020. These guidelines are part of … Read the full press release

Victims of antitrust violations can claim damages under newly proposed EU legislation

Brussels, 11-6-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Antitrust: Commission proposes legislation to facilitate damage claims by victims of antitrust violations.  The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a Directive on how citizens and companies can claim damages when they are victims of infringements … Read the full press release

The European Commission: investment aid for German airport Memmingen in line with EU state aid rules

Brussels, 6-6-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has found that investment aid totalling €7.75 million to finance an infrastructure project at Memmingen airport is in line with EU state aid rules. Memmingen airport is a small regional airport located in South … Read the full press release

EC approves Syniverse of the US acquisition of Mach of Luxembourg, subject to conditions

Brussels, 29-5-2013 — /europawire.eu/ —  Following an in-depth review, the European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Mach of Luxembourg by Syniverse of the US. The approval is conditional upon the divestiture of Mach’s Data Clearing (“DC”) services … Read the full press release

EC approves Munksjö AB / Ahlstrom Corporation merger

Brussels, 27-5-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Following an in-depth investigation (see IP/12/1338), the European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed merger of Munksjö AB of Sweden and the label and processing paper business of Ahlstrom Corporation of Finland in the … Read the full press release

European Union & Swiss Confederation competition authorities to cooperate

Brussels, 17-5-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Union and the Swiss Confederation have signed an agreement that will strengthen co-operation between their respective competition authorities, the European Commission and the Swiss Competition Commission. This is the fifth such agreement signed by the … Read the full press release

EC finds Copenhagen multiarena public co-financing in line with EU state aid rules

Brussels, 15-5-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has concluded that the proposed public co-financing of a new multiarena in Copenhagen, Denmark was in line with EU state aid rules. In particular, the Commission found that the public funding was both proportionate … Read the full press release

Joaquín Almunia welcomes Visa Europe’s proposed commitments to cut inter-bank fees for credit cards

Brussels, 14-5-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Vice President Almunia welcomes Visa Europe’s proposed commitments to significantly cut its inter-bank fees for credit card payments, to a level of 0.3% of the value of the transaction (a reduction of about 40 to 60%) and … Read the full press release

EC clears Banco CEISS restructuring plan

Brussels, 14-5-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has concluded that a modification to Banco CEISS’ restructuring plan, opening the door for an acquisition of the bank by Unicaja Banco, is in line with EU state aid rules. In particular, the Commission … Read the full press release

EC approved the merger between Norsk Hydro ASA and Sapa Holding AB, subject to conditions

Brussels, 13-5-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed creation of a joint venture between Norsk Hydro ASA and Orkla ASA’s wholly-owned subsidiary Sapa Holding AB, both Norwegian companies active in the soft-alloy aluminium extrusions … Read the full press release

The EC sent Statement of Objections to Motorola Mobility on potential misuse of mobile phone standard-essential patents

Brussels, 6-5-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has informed Motorola Mobility of its preliminary view that the company’s seeking and enforcing of an injunction against Apple in Germany on the basis of its mobile phone standard-essential patents (“SEPs”) amounts to an abuse … Read the full press release

EC finds public co-financing of Uppsala arena in Sweden is in line with EU state aid rules

Brussels, 6-5-2013 — /europawire.eu/ —  The European Commission has concluded that the proposed public co-financing of a new multi-purpose arena in Uppsala, Sweden was in line with EU state aid rules. In particular, the Commission found that the public funding was … Read the full press release

EC authorised Belgian plans to compensate the Belgian post

Brussels, 3-5-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has authorised under EU state aid rules Belgian plans to compensate the Belgian postal incumbent bpost for discharging a series of public service obligations between 2013 and 2015. The Commission found the measures to … Read the full press release

The EC formally proposed to the Netherlands to abolish the selective tax exemption for public companies

Brussels, 3-5-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has formally proposed to the Netherlands to abolish the exemption from corporate tax granted to Dutch public undertakings. The Commission considers that public companies that carry out economic activities in competition with private companies … Read the full press release

EC final public consultation on state aid criteria for films and audiovisual works

Brussels, 1-5-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has launched the third and final public consultation in its review of the state aid criteria it uses to assess Member States’ support schemes for films and other audiovisual works. The criteria are set out … Read the full press release

Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines deal to be investigated by EC under the EU merger regulation

Brussels, 23-4-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation under the EU Merger Regulation into the proposed acquisition of Olympic Air by Aegean Airlines. The companies are the two main Greek airlines offering passenger air transport services on … Read the full press release

The European Commission to investigate the proposed UK video games tax relief

Brussels, 18-4-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into the proposed UK video games tax relief. The objective of the measure is to provide an incentive to video games developers to produce games meeting certain cultural criteria. … Read the full press release

Olli REHN: Statement on Cyprus in the European Parliament

Olli REHN – Vice-President of the European Commission and member of the Commission responsible for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro European Parliament Strasbourg, 18-4-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — President, Honourable Members, As President Barroso is attending the funeral of Baroness Thatcher … Read the full press release