Sources: European Commission, Brussels; CP staff
Citing “evidence not sufficiently conclusive,” the European Commission has closed a four-and-a-half-year investigation of integrated cement and concrete producers serving Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain and United Kingdom. November 2008 and September 2009 office inspections of targeted producers raised authorities’ suspicions of anti-competitive practices surrounding portland cement, ground granulated blast furnace slag cement, fly ash and ready mixed concrete. The Commission plans to continue closely monitoring member country cement and concrete markets.