WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3930/97 by W.G. van VELZEN to the Commission. Proposed merger of Worldcom and MCI on the Internet market
C 196/36 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 6. 98 Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (29 January 1998) The operations proposed might be eligible for funding under the Interreg II C Cadsesí (Central Adriatic Danubian and south eastern European Space) programme. It would be necessary to formulate a project dealing with this theme and present it to the Austrian Cadses secretariat for consideration by those responsible. At present, there is already one project submission dealing with the effects of the enlargement of the Community. The address of the Cadses secretariat is forwarded direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat General of the Parliament. (98/C 196/51) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3930/97 by W. G. van Velzen (PPE) to the Commission (12 December 1997) Subject: Proposed merger of Worldcom and MCI on the Internet market There have been reports in the papers recently about the proposed merger of Worldcom and MCI. If this merger actually goes ahead, the new company will occupy a dominant position on the Internet market. 1. Does the Commission intend to examine whether the effects of this proposed merger on access to the Internet are in line with European rules on competition, and in particular Articles 90, 85 and 86 of the Treaty? Does the Commission feel there are grounds for laying down conditions for this proposed merger in the 2. light of development of the market in the European Union? Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (3 February 1998) On 20 November 1997 the Commission received from WorldCom, Inc and MCI Communications Corporation a joint notification of an operation by which the two companies would merge within the meaning of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 of 21 December 1989 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (1) (áthe merger regulationí). The notification is under investigation in accordance with the terms of the Regulation. No proceedings in relation to the notified operation are in progress under Articles 90, 85 or 86 of the EC Treaty. On 18 December 1997 the notification was declared incomplete. The Commission is awaiting the complete information. From the point at which complete information is submitted, the Commission will have under Article 10 of the merger regulation a period of one month from the day following receipt in which to take a decision under Article 6 of the same Regulation. If proceedings are initiated under Article 6(1)(c) of the merger regulation, Article 8 enables the parties, during those proceedings, to offer modifications to their original concentration plan aimed at ensuring that the concentration does not create or strengthen a dominant position as a result of which effective competition would be significantly impeded in the common market or in a substantial part of it. In the event that such proceedings were opened, it would be for the parties themselves to decide whether to propose such modifications. (1) OJ L 257, 21. 9. 1990