The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of Ferro by Prince, both active in the manufacturing of mineral-based chemicals and industrial additives and products. The approval is conditional on full compliance with commitments offered by Prince.

The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules the map of France for granting regional aid from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2027 within the framework of the revised Regional aid Guidelines.

Today, the European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules: (i) €2.55 billion of restructuring aid to enable the Group Transportes Aéreos Portugueses SGPS S.A. (‘TAP SGPS') and the airline TAP Air Portugal return to viability; and (ii) €107.1 million aid to compensate TAP Air Portugal for damages suffered as a result of the coronavirus pandemic between 1 July 2020 and 30 December 2020.

The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules Austria's map for granting regional aid from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2027 within the framework of the revised Regional aid Guidelines.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €20 million Spanish scheme made available through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (‘RRF') supporting the deployment of intelligent systems that will provide enhanced communication and information services for motorways and tunnels of the Spanish State roads network. The measure will improve road safety in Spain and contribute to making road traffic more sustainable, through the deployment and enhancement of advanced digital technologies, in line with the EU's strategic objectives relating to the digital transition, while limiting possible distortions of competition.

The European Commission has prohibited, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering CO., Ltd (DSME) by Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings (HHIH). The merger between the two South Korean shipbuilders would have created a dominant position by the new merged company and reduced competition in the worldwide market for the construction of large liquefied gas (‘LNG') carriers (‘LLNGCs'). The parties did not formally offer remedies to address the Commission's concerns.
See also Remarks by Executive Vice-President Vestager on the Commission decision to prohibit the proposed acquisition of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering by Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings.

The European Commission has found Hungary's €24 million investment aid to Volta Energy Solutions for the extension of a battery copper foil plant in the Hungarian region of Közép-Dunántúl (Central Transdanubia) to be in line with EU State aid rules. The aid will contribute to the development of the region, whilst preserving competition.

The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules Greece's map for granting regional aid from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2027 within the framework of the revised Regional aid Guidelines (‘RAG').

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, Croatia's plans to grant mechanical engineering company Ðuro Ðaković d.d. (‘Đuro Đaković) restructuring aid to the for a total amount of €57.4 million (HRK 430.6 million). The measure will enable the company to finance its restructuring plan and restore its long-term viability with the support of a private investor, the consortium of Czech companies DD Acquisition.

The European Commission has approved Belgian plans to grant up to €19.2 million for the recapitalisation of the Brussels South Charleroi Airport SA (“BSCA”). The measure was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework.

The European Commission has found a €88 million German support measure in favour of Deutsche Bahn AG to be in line with EU State aid rules. The measure, which will take the form of an equity injection, aims at compensating Deutsche Bahn for the damages suffered by its subsidiary DB Cargo due to the coronavirus outbreak between 16 March and 17 May 2020.

Today, the European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €71.4 million Portuguese aid measure to further support TAP Air Portugal in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.

The European Commission has approved unconditionally, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of Nuance Communications, Inc. by Microsoft Corporation. The Commission concluded that the transaction would raise no competition concerns in the European Economic Area.

The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules Romania's map for granting regional aid from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2027, within the framework of the revised Regional aid Guidelines ('RAG').

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €900 million German scheme to support investments in the production of renewable hydrogen in non-EU countries, which will be then imported and sold in the EU. The scheme, called ‘H2Global', aims at meeting the EU demand for renewable hydrogen that is expected to significantly increase in the coming years, by supporting the development of the unexploited renewable resource potential outside the EU. It will contribute to the EU environmental objectives, in line with the European Green Deal, without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, an Austrian aid scheme to support electricity production from renewable sources. The measure will help Austria reach its target of 100% renewable energy in 2030, in line with its Recovery and Resilience Plan as endorsed by the Commission and approved by Council, and will contribute to the European objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, without unduly distorting competition in the Single market.

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of Groupe Ecore by Derichebourg. The approval is conditional on full compliance with a commitments package offered by Derichebourg.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €610 million Italian voucher scheme to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) access high-speed broadband services. The measure will support SME's access to effective Internet connections, enabling them to benefit from online services and offerings, while limiting distortions of competition. The measure is part of a comprehensive strategy that Italy has put in place to address the needs of citizens and businesses in the context of the digitalization of the country and will also contribute to the EU's strategic objectives relating to the digital transition.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, Greek public funding of around €217 million for the construction of the Patra-Pyrgos section of the Olympia Odos Motorway in Greece. As the construction and operation of the Patra-Pyrgos section will be integrated in the existing concession agreement with the concessionaire Olympia Odos SA, the Commission also assessed and approved the application, to the Patra-Pyrgos section, of the existing toll sharing mechanism under the agreement, as well as a conditional 3-year extension of the concession period.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €150 million Spanish scheme made available through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) supporting the deployment of passive infrastructure for the provision of mobile communications services in areas where there currently is no 4G mobile coverage with speeds of at least 10 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. The measure will help Spain reduce the digital divide and will also contribute to the EU's strategic objectives relating to the digital transition.