ITA-Lufthansa deal poses competition risks says Vestager

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 23 - The proposed ITA-Lufthansa merger that is being held up by the European Commission poses competition risks, European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Thursday.
    She said the deal, which has an EC approval deadline of July 4, entails "competition problems.
    "There is a risk that prices will go up and passenger numbers fall. It's up to the companies to illustrate how to prevent that happening. And that's the process in which we find ourselves now. No decision has been taken." She added: "it's a very important merger, also for Italians who want to travel".
    Progress in talks aimed at securing an EU nod for the merger between the two flag carriers is "little" and "slow", various EU sources told ANSA after the airlines made fresh commitments to try to meet antitrust demands Wednesday.
    The further concessions from the German airline and the Italian economy ministry on slots at Milan Linate do not appear to be sufficient, they said, and the EU reportedly wants a more solid solution for long-range routes from Rome Fiumicino to the USA and Canada, the sources said. (ANSA).