Commission invites comments on draft amendments to State aid rules with respect to access to justice in environmental matters
The European Commission has today launched a consultation inviting interested stakeholders to comment on its draft amendments to the State aid Implementing Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 (draft Implementing Regulation) and to the State aid Best Practices Code (amended BPC) with respect to new rules on access to justice following the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committees findings in case ACCC/C/2015/128.
Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera, in charge of competition policy, said: The measures proposed are mindful of the EUs international obligations under the Aarhus Convention, while taking into account the rules of Union law concerning State aid. The Commission remains strongly committed to ensuring that the EU respects its international obligations in matters pertaining to the Aarhus Convention.
The draft Implementing Regulation and the amended BPC set out a new mechanism which allows members of the public to request a Commission review of certain State aid decisions to establish whether they contravene EU environmental law.
A press release is available online.
(For more information: Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
Commission clears acquisition of Viterra Assets by LDC
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of several Dutch, Hungarian and Polish subsidiaries of Viterra Limited (Viterra Assets) by Louis Dreyfus Company B.V. (LDC) of the Netherlands.
The transaction relates primarily to the origination, processing, and marketing of oilseeds and their derived products.
The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies limited combined market position resulting from the proposed transaction. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
More information is available on the Commissions competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.11827.
(For more information: Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
Commission clears creation of joint venture by Yunex, VVP and Ascendi
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by Yunex GmbH of Germany, Via Verde Portugal – Gestão de Sistemas Electrónicos de Cobrança, S.A. (VVP), and Ascendi O&M, S.A. (Ascendi) both of Portugal.
The transaction relates primarily to the market for the granting of toll motorway concessions and distribution of on-board equipment.
The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that the joint venture has negligible activities in the European Economic Area, and given the companies limited combined market position resulting from the proposed transaction. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
More information is available on the Commissions competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.11795.
(For more information: Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
Commission clears creation of joint venture by Nissan and Mitsubishi
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (Nissan) and Mitsubishi Corporation (Mitsubishi), both of Japan.
The transaction relates primarily to e-mobility.
The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the limited impact on the European Economic Area. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
More information is available on the Commissions competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.11865.
(For more information: Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
President von der Leyen and Commissioners Jørgensen and Kubilius in Lithuania in view of the Baltics grid synchronisation and to discuss protection of critical infrastructure
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, and Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, will be in Lithuania over the weekend in view of the planned synchronisation of the Baltic countries with the European continental grid.
This is a flagship EU-backed infrastructure project that will allow the three EU Member States to move away from energy dependence on Russia and benefit fully from the European common energy system. On Sunday (9 February), President von der Leyen will deliver a statement to the press alongside the Presidents of Lithuania, Poland, Estonia and Latvia at around 13:00 CET. She will then participate in the Baltic Energy Independence Day Celebration event at around 17.30 CET. Both events will be livestreamed on EbS. In the course of the day, President von der Leyen will also hold bilateral meetings with the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda, as well as Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas.
Before joining the Celebration event, on Sunday Commissioners Jørgensen and Kubilius will participate in a joint high-level meeting with the Energy and Climate Ministers of the Baltic States and Poland in Vilnius, Lithuania, to discuss the protection of critical energy infrastructure as well as the next steps following the synchronisation of the Baltic States to ensure energy security in the region. The meeting will be followed by a press conference as well as a visit at an energy storage park. In the evening, Commissioner Jørgensen will deliver a keynote speech. Livestream of the events will be available on EbS+.
Before going to Lithuania, on Saturday, Commissioner Jørgensen will be in Tallinn to meet with the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kristen Michal, and visit together with him and the CEO of the Estonian transmission system operator (Elering) a transmission control centre. At the end of the visit, they will hold a joint press point that you can follow on EbS.
(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Giulia Bedini – Tel: +32 2 295 86 61)