Mr Harrison says it is wrong to suggest that it is Mr Monti who has stretched the dominance criteria. The Airtours decision was written under Mr Monti s predecessor, Karel van Meert, he says. In some other sectors, for example aspects of the oil sector, Mr Van Meert suggested that the acceptable limits of concentration might have been reached. That view is echoed by Ms Torres, speaking for the commission. The merger wave is into its fourth or fifth year.
Industry is already consolidated.
An increase in the number of remedies sought in the phase 1 stage does not mean the rules are getting tougher. We have already reached a level of concentration in many sectors that is the maximum that regulators around the world deem acceptable. If that is so, argue bankers, the EC and other anti-trust authorities around Europe must establish a common set of principles and a clear strategy for reviewing mergers that is transparent. And the EC staff probably needs beefing up. There are still too many rubber stampers there, is one comment.