Deputy Premier and Transport Minister
Matteo Salvini on Tuesday bemoaned "Euro-madness" after the
European Commission presented a list of issues it has with the
deal for the Lufthansa to acquire a 41% stake in Italy's ITA
Airways that it wants solving before it will give the green
light to the operation.
"After many years were wasted, the government wants to make the
jobs of thousands of workers safe, ensure Italian people's right
to fly and the arrival of tourists in Italy, and Brussels
objects to it," Salvin said.
"In my opinion it is because there are economic interests behind
it"'.
The Commission on Monday informed Lufthansa and the Italian
economy ministry of its preliminary view that the planned
acquisition may restrict competition on certain routes leading
to increased prices or decreased quality of services for
customers.
Specifically, Brussels said in an official statement of
objections that it is concerned the transaction may reduce
competition on short-haul routes connecting Italy with countries
in Central Europe and on long-haul routes between Italy and the
US, Canada and Japan.
In addition, the EC said it fears the acquisition could create
or strengthen the dominant position of the Italian airline at
Milan-Linate airport, making it harder for competitors to
provide passenger air transport services to and from the hub.
The statement of objections comes after the European executive
in mid-January launched an in-depth investigation into the
proposed deal between Lufthansa and ITA Airways, taking to phase
two the antitrust examination of the transaction that began in
late November after the Italian Treasury, currently the sole
owner of the company that replaced the loss-making former
flag-carrier Alitalia in 2021, and the German carrier formally
notified Brussels of the plans for the merger against an
investment by the German carrier of 325 million euros.
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