Ita-Lufthansa, an EU spokesperson: possible postponement of the investigation deadline
Whether additional remedies will be presented by Lufthansa and the MEF to address the European Commission’s concerns regarding the planned gradual acquisition of Ita by the German company, “it is possible” that the deadline for the in-depth investigation, currently set for June 6, will be postponed. The executive spokeswoman confirms this EU for Competition Lea Zuber, during the press briefing in Brussels.
“I can’t say much about the case itself – explains Zuber – but I can remember the procedural rules. We are currently in phase two of the investigation, for which we now have a deadline of June 6th. What is possible now, at this stage, is that, if all parties and the Commission agree, they ask for an extension of up to 20 working days. It is not necessary for it to be 20 working days, but only up to 20 working days”. There is also, he adds, “the procedure of stopping the clock (ed.), which occurs when the Commission asks for some clarifications from the parts and the latter are not delivered on time. In that case the Commission can stop the clock,” he concludes.