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Commission clears Thomson's Reuters bid
- The European Commission on Tuesday (19 February) gave conditional approval to Canadian publisher Thomson Corp's $17 billion (Û11.5bn) bid for rival Reuters. The deal was cleared after both firms agreed to sell databases in areas where the two might have a dominant share of the market for financial data. The Commission's decision was made in close co-ordination with the US Department of Justice, which proposed a similar divestiture deal on the same day.
Agricultural tariffs
- Michel Barnier, France's agriculture minister, said on Monday (18 February) that 20 EU countries were opposed to proposals on agricultural tariffs and subsidies being floated by the World Trade Organization. Speaking after a meeting of the 20 countries, the minister said that various member states had written to Commission President JosŽ Manuel Barroso, warning him against accepting the proposals.
ECJ rules on Greece
- The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on Thursday (14 February) against Greece for ignoring Commission demands that millions of euros in illegal state aid granted to Olympic Airlines should be recovered. Greece had complained that it was not provided with precise details of the amount of state aid to be repaid. The ECY said that instructions had been sufficiently precise and that the Commission, in any case, was under no obligation to determine the exact amount to be repaid.
Supermarket protest
- The European Parliament yesterday (20 February) passed a written declaration, signed by 439 MEPs, calling on the Commission to investigate an alleged abuse of power by large supermarkets operating in the European Union. They accused large supermarkets of controlling the access of farmers and other suppliers to EU consumers with negative effects on employment conditions and environmental protection. A Commission spokesman would not comment on whether regulators will respond.
Health directive
- MEPs voted on Tuesday to review a controversial health and safety directive on electromagnetic fields, which would restrict the use of MRI scanners, which are used to detect cancers. UK Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne said that the directive would have led to excessive reliance on the use of technologies with proven health risks, such as x-rays. Lynne called on the Commission to urge member states to repeal the legislation.
Ukraine trade talks
- Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on Monday launched negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). The talks followed approval of Ukraine's WTO accession process on 5 February. Ukrainian exports to the EU consist mainly of basic commodities, such as metals, energy and agricultural products. Major EU exports to the Ukraine are machinery, chemicals and transport equipment.
Customs controls
- MEPs approved on Tuesday new rules on customs controls. The first reading deal on the community customs code updates rules dating from 1992, modernising controls and ensuring greater co-operation between national customs operators. Sticking points had included debates over how operators should be selected and authorised.
UK bank nationalised
- The UK government announced the nationalisation of mortgage-lender Northern Rock on Sunday (17 February). The Commission had ruled in December that government assistance offered after the lender's collapse in September complied with EU rules on rescue aid, which allow loans or guarantees lasting for no more than six months. Additional support after 17 March would attract scrutiny.
The electronics industry looks set to continue subsidising performing artists despite the European Commission's decision last week (14 February) to re-open a debate on private copying levies.
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