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Total Fina Elf deal: European Commi



Subject: Total Fina Elf deal: European Commission sends deal back to Paris

Total Fina and Elf have been told by the European Commission that their
offer of mariage has to be edited, before it can be approved. They have
until Feb 18th to do it; BP Amoco did it, so did Mobil-Exxon. The
problem among others is now, in France, Total Fina has 40 percent of the
autoroute stations, and with Elf, 60%; that means a virtual monopoly or
unfair competitive advantage.

The Brusselles based European Commission is pushing the deal back to the
French saying that the problem is a French problem, that has to be
resolved, and is not an overall or European competitive advantage
problem.

Curious, because You should knwn that in France there has never been an
outcry, serious enough to reverse the monopolistic advangage of the
dominant position, the laws dont write of it or permit it, even though
they refused Coca Cola twice, the latest refusal most recent in its bid
for the softdrink Orangina -after aggressive lobbying from Pepsi!

Furthermore, you should know as of today, no laws in france permit class
action suits, the type which have hit the tabacco companies.

In FRance, consumer action, boycott or other, is mainly and nearly only
used to protect French agricultural products, and French beef.

Total is pushing the deal faster than the politicians can reform the
laws here. And Brussels knows that. But you know that there is a lot of
money to pass around to butter the deal and pass it through...This is
Belgium and France, and the European Commission where corruption
scandals forced this year the entire Commission ranks to resign
(Sauter's commissions sacked after corruption inquiry)...

Meanwhile, Chirac split to the the FRench island territory off South
AFrica, REUNION, leaving the Jospin govt to deal with Seattle and the
Corse problem of assassination and official coverup...