Conferences and Speeches
- European Models for Economic Recovery, Address at Atlantic Council, Washington, Neelie Kroes
26 March 2009
"I understand why politicians are tempted by protectionism – it feels like a quick-fix to the human pain around us.
But telling your citizens to “buy American” or “buy Spanish” never works. Protectionism is addictive.
Don’t ever listen to those who propose temporary measures. History tells us that the only temporary part is the commitment to repeal it.
It is like a pregnancy: you think it's about nine months but there are decades of consequences."
Court
- Case C-113/07 Selex Sistemi Integrati v Commission and Eurocontrol
26 March 2009
The Court of Justice ruled on an appeal by Selex to annul a CFI judgment of 12 December 2006 in case
T-155/04.
The CFI had upheld the Commission's decision of 12 February 2004 rejecting Selex' complaint against alleged anticompetitive behaviour of Eurocontrol.
The Court of Justice ruled that the CFI had erred in law when finding that certain activities of Eurocontral targetted by the complaint constituted "economic activities" in the meaning of Article 82 EC Treaty.
However, the Cour held that this error had not affected the CFI judgment and therefore had had no bearing on the outcome. The Court dismissed the appeal and confirmed the Commission's decision.
Mergers
- Commission approves proposed acquisition of Philips branded PC monitors and electronic displays business by TPV
26 March 2009
The transaction would lead to several vertical and horizontal relationships.
However, the Commission found that the horizontal overlap is very limited and that, under all possible alternative market definitions, the merged entity would continue to face several strong, effective competitors.
With regard to the vertical relationships, the Commission found that the merged entity would neither have the ability nor the incentive to restrict supplies or to close off customers, mainly because of the presence of several competitors and Philips HoldCo's limited market presence at the downstream level. (C-5)
Antitrust
State Aid
- Commission approves temporary modification of Austrian risk-capital scheme to boost real economy
26 March 2009
The Commission authorised an Austrian measure temporarily modifying an existing risk capital investment scheme, previously approved by the Commission on 18th October 2007 (see case number
N 160/2007).
The Austrian measure is in line with the Commission's Temporary state aid Framework (see
IP/08/1993).
In particular, the measure allows an increase of the maximum investment tranches from €1.5 million to €2.5 million over each 12 month period until 31st December 2010.
The minimum private participation for risk capital investments is temporarily reduced from 50% to 30%. (H-2)
- Commission approves recapitalisation of Bank of Ireland
26 March 2009
The Commission approved an emergency recapitalisation worth €3.5 billion that the Irish authorities intend to grant to Bank of Ireland.
The measure is in line with the Commission's Guidance Communications on state aid during the crisis (see
IP/08/1495 and
IP/08/1901).
In particular, the measure is limited in scope, requires an adequate remuneration and provides safeguards to minimise distortions of competition. (D-3)
- Commission authorises UK scheme to support lending to businesses
24 March 2009
The Commission approved a UK scheme to encourage banks to provide new lending to businesses in the UK.
By virtue of government guarantees, banks will obtain capital relief, which they have to redeploy to support further lending to businesses.
The scheme meets the conditions of the Commission's Communication on state aid to banks during the current crisis (see
IP/08/1495),
because it is non-discriminatory, limited in time (two years) and scope and requires a risk-based remuneration. (D-3)
- Commission approves €800 million public funding for Spanish textile sector
24 March 2009
The Commission approved €800 million of public funding for a support programme aimed at the Spanish textile and clothing sector.
The programme comprises measures for the promotion of technical research, reindustrialisation, innovation, export of Spanish products, specific training and for maintaining aged workers in their job.
After an in-depth investigation, opened in November 2007, the Commission found the measures to be in line with the state aid rules, either under approved aid schemes, the exemption for small amounts of aid (see
IP/06/1765) or Article 87(3)(c), that allows aid under certain conditions for the development of certain economic activities. (E-3)
- Commission endorses €40.6 million aid for construction of paper mill in Spremberg, Germany
24 March 2009
The Commission approved €40.6 million of aid for the German company Hamburger Spremberg, for the construction of a paper mill in Spremberg.
The measure is compatible with the requirements of the EU Regional aid guidelines 2007-2013 (see
IP/05/1653).
In particular, the project, involving total investments of €250 million by Hamburger, will significantly contribute to the development of the region's economy without unduly distorting competition. (H-1)
- Commission orders Greece to recover €1.4 million of unlawful aid from vehicle producer ELVO
24 March 2009
The Commission found that certain tax waivers granted by Greece to the vehicle producer ELVO S.A. constitute unlawful state aid.
The measures relieved ELVO from taxes that its competitors had to pay, thus giving ELVO an unfair competitive advantage without furthering any public interest goal.
The Commission ordered Greece to recover aid amounting to around €1.4 million, plus interest, from ELVO. (E-3)
- Commission approves extension of French regional aid map to 111 new "communes" (local authorities)
24 March 2009
The Commission approved the extension of the French regional aid map to cover 111 new municipalities.
The aim of this extension is to address the serious economic problems these areas have faced recently by allowing firms located there to benefit from aid for investment and job creation.
The Commission approved the French regional aid map in March 2007 (see
IP/07/290 and
MEMO/07/94) and a first extension of the zoning pool in June 2008 (see
IP/08/851). (H-1)
- Commission authorises amendment to French scheme to inject capital into certain credit institutions
24 March 2009
The Commission approved amendments to the French recapitalisation scheme, that it had authorised on 8 December 2008 and 28 January 2009 (see
IP/08/1900 and
IP/09/158).
The amendments relate to the terms of remuneration and reimbursement of the preference shares issued by the beneficiary banks in return for their recapitalisation by the State.
They are consistent with the Commission's recommendations on support measures for banks during the crisis (see
IP/08/1495 and
IP/08/1901).
It provides in particular for an adequate remuneration of the measures. (D-3)
- Commission authorises Austrian temporary aid scheme to grant compatible aid of up to €500 000
23 March 2009
The Commission approved an Austrian measure allowing to grant aid of up to €500 000 per firm in 2009 and 2010 to businesses facing funding problems because of the current credit squeeze.
The scheme meets the conditions of the Commission’s Temporary state aid Framework (see
IP/08/1993).
In particular, the maximum amount of aid does not exceed €500 000 per company and the scheme applies only to businesses that were not in difficulty on 1 July 2008.
Limited amounts of compatible aid can be granted until 31 December 2010 in the form of direct grants, interest rate subsidies, subsidised public loans and public guarantees. (H-1)
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