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- The European Commission announced on 29 November that conditions imposed by the Spanish government on a proposed takeover by German energy giant E.ON of Spain’s Endesa were in breach of EU law. Spain has until 13 December to respond to the Commission’s decision. The Spanish industry ministry imposed the conditions in November after the Commission ruled that the restrictions set by Spanish energy authority CNE on the merger were illegal. But E.ON has said that it accepts the conditions and will go ahead with the deal.
Rubber cartel
- Six companies have been fined €519 million for fixing prices and sharing customers for synthetic rubber, the European Commission announced on Wednesday. Companies belonging to Eni, Bayer, Shell, Dow, Unipetrol and Trade-Stomil ran the illegal cartel from 1996 to 2002, according to the Commission. Bayer will not have to pay its share of the fine because it reported the cartel to the Commission.
Microsoft update
- Microsoft on 23 November filed revised technical documentation with the European Commission, following a 2004 antitrust decision. The software giant has already been fined almost €800 million for abusing its market dominance. A final ruling, not expected before 2007, could mean fines of up to €3m a day.
Telecom Italia/AOL
- Telecommunications company Telecom Italia has won European Commission approval to buy the German internet access business of AOL.
Online-booze ruling
- The European Court of Justice ruled on 23 November that consumers cannot order alcoholic drinks and tobacco over the internet to avoid paying higher excise duties in their home country. The court said that "only products acquired and transported personally by private individuals are exempt from excise duty in the member state of importation".
UK’s costly calls
- The Commission said that mobile phone customers in the UK were being overcharged for calls to other networks because the UK regulator had failed to stop operators passing on the costs of acquiring 3G licences to consumers.
The European Commission’s proposal to create a single payment area for card transactions could still be approved in Parliament with a single reading after support from EU finance ministers this week.
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