‘War is declared’ between Montebourg and Almunia

EurActiv reported on the 27 January 2014 that tensions between the French industry minister Arnaud Montebourg and EU's competition commissioner Joaquin Almunia were rising over mergers and state aid management.

A report commissioned by the French minister of finance, Pierre Moscovici, and concluded in December 2013, called for simplifying rules governing company mergers in the EU, with the aim of avoiding conflicting decisions by national competition authorities.

ESO: Background information: EU’s competition rules 'stupid and counter-productive', Montebourg says http://www.europeansources.info/record/eus-competition-rules-stupid-and-counter-productive-montebourg-says/

EurActiv, 20.02.14: French report calls for simplified EU merger rules http://www.euractiv.com/innovation-enterprise/french-report-suggests-simplifyi-news-533625

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