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Oracle wins more time for Sun merger
The European Commission extends the deadline for approval of Oracle’s proposed $7.4bn merger with rival Sun Microsystems
Editorial: Euro-minimalism
By lasering in on the lowest common denominator in this way, leaders of the big member-states are united in their unwillingness to be overshadowed by figures of calibre and clout
Business seeks freeze on labour laws
The British Chambers of Commerce is asking the government for a three-year moratorium on labour legislation amid fears that small companies in particular will struggle to absorb a concentrated wave of regulation
Europe’s appliance industry makes the grade
Appliance makers have won changes to a new European energy efficiency labelling scheme after they warned that an earlier rescaling plan could have cost them more than €1.5bn ($2.2bn, £1.4bn) in lost sales
Ombudsman raps EU probe after Intel claim
European competition officials have been criticised for failing to properly record a meeting with Dell during their investigation into antitrust abuses by Intel
Bankers fear over-regulation
European bankers have warned that excessive regulation in response to the global financial crisis will endanger growth, although some international officials insist tougher rules and an end to taxpayer-funded bank bail-outs are essential for recovery
Europe puts stress on R&D spending
European companies continue to plough money into research at a significantly higher rate than their US and Japanese counterparts in spite of the global financial crisis
France urges inquiry into competition abuse
Finance minister fears some institutions have become too powerful as the market has been consolidated by banking failures and industry mergers
Darling pressed to hold back on EU regulation
The Commons Treasury committee says it has identified ‘serious problems’ with plans to create a European Systemic Risk Board, which would focus on preventing bubbles and other macroeconomic dangers
Editorial Comment: Oracle v Brussels
Both sides have stumbled into this disagreement by accident. Having already won clearance in Washington, Oracle tried to rush its deal through in Brussels without showing due deference to regulators there
