The EU Commission refers to the German Competition Authority the examination of the impact of a proposed joint venture in the energy sector on the downstream market for oil products (Deutsche / RWE-DEA)

"Merger control: main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2001"* The Commission on 23 August referred to the German Competition Authority the examination of the impact in the downstream market for oil products of a proposed joint venture between Deutsche and RWE-DEA. At the same time, the Commission also took the view that the deal’s effect in the petrochemicals sector required further review and started an in-depth investigation. Dutch-British Royal Dutch/Shell (Shell) is one of the world’s biggest oil groups active in exploration, production and sale of oil and natural gas, the production and sale of refined products chemicals,