EC president to decide on Aer Lingus takeover next month

The president of the European Commission told the Taoiseach this afternoon that he will decide his stance on Ryanair's attempted takeover of Aer Lingus early next month.

Jose Manuel Barosso was speaking during a meeting with Bertie Ahern in Brussels.

The Taoiseach said the Irish Government believes the bid contravenes EU competition law and would not be in the interests of either the consumer or the aviation market.

Mr Barosso said he was happy with the level of competition in the sector:

“We're in fact providing for more competition and lower fares. It's amazing the landscape of air transport competition today when compared to the situation some years before,” he said.

“We, the European Commission, are absolutely committed to competition, namely in this very successful sector."