EU: Ukraine pretest the Daimler-Kamaz merger

Ukraine has officially complained to the European Commission that a joint venture by Germany’s Daimler and Russia’s Kamaz, a producer of trucks, but also of a large variety of military vehicles, contradicts the spirit of EU sanctions against Russia, EurActiv reported.

On 24 February, the Commission announced it had approved the creation of a joint venture by Daimler, of Germany, and Kamaz of Russia.

The Commission didn’t find that the merger contradicts the the sanctions adopted by the EU vis-a-vis Russia, in the context of the annexation of Crimea and the Ukraine crisis.

Ukraine has now consequently protested against the merger. According to the official note, Ukraine doesn’t question the legality of the merger from the point of view of EU competition law, but finds that it contradicts the spirit of sanctions.

“In addition, the decision will be actively exploited by the Russian propaganda campaign to discredit the resolve and effectiveness of the EU efforts to oppose Russia’s course toward Ukraine by means of economic pressure,” EurActiv reported.

Full Content: EurActiv.com

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