Opel haggling pressures Brussels

The blatant haggling over jobs and plants during General Motors’ sale of Opel in Europe is putting heavy pressure on the Competition directorate-general of the European Commission, which must ultimately decide whether the plan complies with state aid rules.

Some officials are understood to be concerned that the European Commission could be tainted for years if it 'rubber-stamps' a deal in which financial contributions by countries and local job commitments appear to have been linked. The European Union state aid and internal market rules expressly bar this.

ESO: Background information: GM set to agree Opel stake sale http://www.europeansources.info/record/gm-set-to-agree-opel-stake-sale/

ESO: Background information: Kroes warns EU states over ‘stealing’ car jobs http://www.europeansources.info/record/kroes-warns-eu-states-over-stealing-car-jobs/

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