Press Release: Mergers: Commission launches public consultation on draft revised guidelines on remedies

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on draft guidelines that clarify the Commission’s policy with regard to "remedies" in merger control. "Remedies" are modifications to a merger proposed by the parties to the transaction with a view to eliminating competition concerns identified by the Commission in its merger control inquiry. The new draft Remedies Notice would adapt the current guidelines (dating from 2001) in the light of an extensive study undertaken by the Commission into the implementation and effectiveness of remedies (see IP/05/1327), recent judgements of the European Courts and the new Merger Regulation (139/2004 –see MEMO/04/9), in force since2004. The new Remedies Notice is due to be adopted definitively by the Commission later in 2007, taking into account the results of the consultations just launched.