Italy to notify ITA deal after EC probe – econ min sources – English

(ANSA) – ROME, SEP 10 – Italy will notify the European
Commission of the deal between ITA and Lufthansa for the German
airline to take a minority stake in the smaller heir to Alitalia
after an EC probe which is expected to be fast, economy ministry
sources said Sunday.

   
“The notification of the agreement for the sale of a minority
share of Ita to Lufthansa to the European Commission for
Competition is accepted, by practice, only at the end of an
investigation that the same commission is carrying out very
meticulously in the context of a pre-notification phase that has
already begun”, explained at the MEF.

   
‘The response from the EU executive entrusted to a spokesperson
(who said notification had not been received) is positive
because it represents the prerequisite for a process that will
be very fast.

   
“As MEF we have already taken steps to obtain a meeting in the
near future with (European Justice) Commissioner (Didier)
Reynders”. (ANSA).