Press Release: Commission welcomes Council agreement on making cross-border mergers easier

The European Commission welcomed the Council's agreement on its political approach to the Directive on cross-border mergers, proposed by the Commission in November 2003. This key measure responded to strong demand from businesses and would allow cross-border mergers of limited liability companies in the European Union. Under the provisions in place such mergers were impossible or very difficult and expensive. The Directive was particularly aimed at helping small and medium sized companies that want to operate in more than one Member State, but not throughout Europe, and thus cannot seek incorporation under the European Company Statute.

European Commission: DG Competition http://ec.europa.eu/competition/index_en.html

---