The EU Commission publishes a White Paper setting out proposals to amend the merger control system

Substantial reform of EU merger control on the cards* On 9 July 2014, the European Commission published a White Paper setting out proposals to amend the EU merger control system. The proposed reform of the system is the most significant in the last 10 years and could have an impact on many corporate transactions. The proposals The proposals deal with the following: the expansion of the Commission’s powers to review the acquisition of non-controlling minority shareholdings; the streamlining of the case referral system between the Commission and the EU Member States; and measures aimed at simplifying merger procedures, including amending the EU Merger Regulation so that extra-EEA joint ventures do not require notification, and the introduction of block exemptions for simplified merger