EU: Commission’s Almunia set to exit post with a bang

While European Commission Joaquin Almunia is not set to end his post until this November, reports say Almunia will likely have a packed agenda beginning this April as colleagues at the Commission are rumored to be planning to step down.

The resignations are part of a contest to the European Parliament election, reports say, meaning Almunia will likely have to pick up the slack. The added duties come this April mean the competition chief will also likely have to conclude major cases, like the one investigating Google, ahead of time.

Almunia is slated to conclude his term as Commissioner later this year after serving in the position since 2009.

Reports say in the few weeks he has to conclude major cases, the Commission is rumored to be close to a resolution with Google over concerns of how the company displays rival search results. But with a high-profile case regarding Russian gas giant Gazprom, reports say Almunia will likely launch formal charges against the company for price discrimination.

Without concluding the cases, Almunia’s predecessor will have to take over decisions of the high-profile probes.

Full Content: Reuters

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