Court
- C-425/07 AEPI v Commission
23 April 2009
The Court of Justice ruled on an appeal brought by AEPI against a judgment of the Court of First Instance of 12 July 2007 in case
T-229/05.
The CFI had dismissed AEPI's application for annulment of a Commission decision of 18 April 2005, that rejected AEPI's complaint alleging an infringement of the EU antitrust rules by Greek organisations for the collective management of rights related to copyright in music.
The CoJ rejected the appeal and fully upheld the Commission's decision.
Antitrust
- Commission opens proceedings against Swedish electricity Transmission System Operator concerning limiting interconnector capacity for electricity exports
23 April 2009
The Commission has opened formal proceedings with respect to the behaviour of Svenska Kraftnät (SvK), the Swedish electricity Transmission System Operator (TSO), for a possible breach of Article 82 EC Treaty.
The Commission believes that SvK may be abusing its monopoly position as the Swedish incumbent electricity transmission service provider by limiting export transmission capacity on Swedish interconnectors to neighbouring countries. (B-1)
- Commission opens formal proceedings against certain members of Star and oneworld airline alliances
20 April 2009
The Commission has opened two formal antitrust proceedings in relation to cooperation between certain airlines on transatlantic routes.
The first investigation concerns both existing and planned cooperation between four current or prospective members of the Star Alliance: Air Canada, Continental, Lufthansa and United.
The second investigation relates to proposed cooperation between three members of the oneworld alliance: American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia.
The Commission will assess the compatibility of each of these airlines' cooperation with European rules on restrictive business practices. (F-1)
Mergers
State aid
- Commission authorises temporary Latvian guarantee scheme to boost real economy
23 April 2009
The Commission approved a Latvian scheme aimed at companies encountering financing difficulties as a result of the credit crunch in the current economic crisis.
The scheme allows the granting of subsidised guarantees for initial investment and working capital loans concluded by 31 December 2009.
It meets the conditions of the Commission’s Temporary Framework on state aid to business during the crisis (see
IP/08/1993)
because it is limited in time, respects the relevant thresholds and applies only to companies that were not in difficulty on 1 July 2008. (H-1)
- Overview of national measures adopted as a response to the financial and economic crisis
22 April 2009
- Commission approves UK Asset-Backed Securities Guarantee Scheme
21 April 2009
The Commission approved the UK's Asset-Backed Securities Guarantee Scheme. The measure is aimed at countering the adverse development of the UK housing market as a consequence of the credit contraction, by expanding the funds available to banks to promote lending to homebuyers and homeowners.
The Commission found the scheme in line with its Guidelines Communication on the application of state aid rules to banks during the crisis (see
IP/08/1495),
because it is well targeted, proportionate, designed to minimise negative spill-over effects, non-discriminatory, limited in time and scope and with a market-orientated remuneration. (D-5)
- Commission approves UK Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme to help households affected by financial downturn
20 April 2009
The Commission approved the UK Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme, aimed at reducing the level of home repossessions that are likely to occur as a result of the current economic downturn.
It will allow households that are unable to meet their mortgage repayments following a temporary drop of income, which could be linked to crisis-related unemployment, to defer all of their principal and up to 70% of their interest repayments for a period of up to 2 years.
In return, the UK will provide the lender with a guarantee on part of the deferred interest.
The Commission found the measure compatible with Article 87(2)(a) of the EC Treaty as it provides aid of a social character to individuals on a non-discriminatory basis. (D-3)
- Commission approves Luxembourg's export-credit insurance scheme
20 April 2009
The Commission approved a measure adopted by Luxembourg to limit the adverse impact of the current financial crisis on export firms.
The Commission found the measure to be in line with its Temporary Framework for state aid to support access to finance during the current crisis (see
IP/08/1993).
In particular, it is limited in time and scope and it meets the relevant provisions of the Commission's Communication on short-term export-credit insurance. (D-3)
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