Commission registers European Citizens Initiative on ‘Ethics, Transparency and Integrity for European Political Parties
Today, the European Commission has registered a European Citizens Initiative (ECI), entitled ‘Ethics, Transparency and Integrity for European Political Parties.
The initiative invites the Commission to ‘devise a European model of ethical governance based on transparency, integrity and shared responsibility. To this end, the organisers call for the Commission to ‘propose a legislative act amending and tightening up the EU Regulation ‘on European political parties and European political foundations and introducing stricter requirements in relation to conflicts of interest, transparency, decision-making, unethical conduct and funding.
As this initiative fulfils the formal conditions established in the relevant legislation, the Commission considers it legally admissible under the European Citizens Initiative Regulation. The Commission has not analysed the substance of the proposals at this stage. The registration does not influence the Commissions final decision on its merits, or any potential action it may take. The Commission will take a decision on the initiative only if it collects at least one million signatures from EU citizens.
More information is available in a press release online.
(For more information: Olof Gill – Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Antoine Lomba – Tel.: +32 2 299 32 33)
Commission extends SATA and TAP State aid divestment conditions deadlines
The European Commission has extended the deadlines for SATA and TAP to complete the divestments of assets that were conditions for restructuring aid granted by the Portuguese government.
Upon Portugals request, the Commission agreed to an extension until 31 December 2026 of the deadline for SATA to divest a majority shareholding (51%) of Azores Airlines and the carve-out and sale of its ground handling business unit. These divestments are conditions for the approval of the restructuring aid granted by Portugal to SATA in June 2022. For TAP, the Commission extended the deadline for the divestment of its shareholding in SPdH and Cateringpor to 30 June 2026. This divestment is a condition for the approval of the restructuring aid granted by Portugal to TAP in December 2021.
To limit the negative effects of the extension of the deadline on competition, Portugal has offered to correspondingly reduce the aid amount and to prolong measures to ensure competition until the full divestment of the assets.
The non-confidential versions of the decisions will be made available under the case numbers SA.62043 and SA.60165 in the State aid register on the Commissions competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
(For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 229 94774)
Commission clears creation of joint venture by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Jefferies
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (‘SMFG) of Japan and Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (‘Jefferies) of the US.
The transaction relates primarily to Japanese investment banking equity-related services.
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.12187.
(For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00)
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