In the face of further defeats on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, and following further pressure from Peers across the House of Lords, the government has brought forward amendments to ensure that the UK still has the ability to refer to and apply EU guidance for legal matters in our courts going forwards.
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At about 0.15am, a motorcycle driven by the 54-year-old man was travelling along West Kowloon Corridor towards Tsim Sha Tsui. When approaching near Tong Mi Road, it reportedly rammed into a concrete barrier.
Sustaining multiple body injuries, the driver was rushed to Kwong Wah Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 0.50am.
Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon West is underway.
Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 9000 or 3661 9062.
Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “The way people listen to music has changed significantly in recent years, with more and more Europeans using music streaming services. Our investigation aims to ensure that music fans will continue to enjoy attractive music streaming offers and won’t face less choice as a result of this proposed merger.”
The proposed transaction involves Apple’s acquisition of Shazam. It would combine two significant and well known players in the digital music industry that are mainly active in complementary business areas. In particular, Apple offers the music streaming service “Apple Music”, which in the last three years has become the second largest music streaming service provider in Europe. Shazam offers the leading music recognition app for mobile devices in the European Economic Area (EEA) and worldwide. Music recognition applications allow consumers to recognise music based on a short audio sample by using microphones built into their mobile devices.
The Commission’s preliminary competition concerns
The Commission’s initial market investigation raised several issues relating to the combination of Shazam’s strong market position in the music recognition apps market and Apple’s market position in the music streaming services market.
At this stage, the Commission is concerned that, following the takeover of Shazam, Apple would obtain access to commercially sensitive data about customers of its competitors for the provision of music streaming services in the EEA. Access to such data could allow Apple to directly target its competitors’ customers and encourage them to switch to Apple Music. As a result, competing music streaming services could be put at a competitive disadvantage. In addition, while at this stage the Commission does not consider Shazam as a key entry point for music streaming services, it will also further investigate whether Apple Music’s competitors would be harmed if Apple, after the transaction, were to discontinue referrals from the Shazam app to them.
The transaction was notified to the Commission on 14 March 2018. The Commission now has 90 working days, until 4 September 2018, to take a decision. The opening of an in-depth investigation does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation.
Companies and products
Apple is a US based global technology company which designs, manufactures and sells mobile communication, media devices, portable digital music players and personal computers. It also sells and delivers digital content online through the ”iTunes Store”, the ”App Store”, ”iBookstore” as well as ”Mac App Store”. It also offers the music and video streaming service ”Apple Music”.
Shazam is a UK based developer and distributor of music recognition applications for smartphones, tablets and PCs.It mainly generates revenues from online advertising, and commissions earned on referrals of users to digital music streaming and download services, such as Apple Music, Spotify and Deezer.
Referral request
On 6 February 2018, the Commission accepted a request from Austria, France, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden to assess the acquisition of Shazam by Apple under the EU Merger Regulation. The proposed transaction was initially notified to Austria for regulatory clearance as the transaction did not meet the turnover thresholds of the EU Merger Regulation. Austria submitted a referral request to the Commission pursuant to Article 22(1) of the EU Merger Regulation on 21 December 2017.
Merger control rules and procedures
The Commission has the duty to assess mergers and acquisitions involving companies with a turnover above certain thresholds (see Article 1 of the Merger Regulation) and to prevent concentrations that would significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.
The vast majority of notified mergers do not pose competition problems and are cleared after a routine review. From the moment a transaction is notified, the Commission generally has a total of 25 working days to decide whether to grant approval (Phase I) or to start an in-depth investigation (Phase II).
In addition to the current transaction, there are 3 ongoing Phase II merger investigations: the proposed acquisition of Ilva by ArcelorMittal, the proposed acquisition of Cristal by Tronox and the proposed merger between Praxair and Linde.
More information on the transaction will be available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.8788.
Press contacts
Accredited journalists will have access to the events of the 24 April taking place in the Charlemagne Building and to the press opportunities of the 25 April at the Justus Lipsius and Europa buildings.
Specific accreditation is required. See the media advisory here.
All times are approximate and subject to change
Place: Europa building, Brussels
+/- 07.30
Arrivals – Access for accredited journalists (live streaming)
+/- 09.00 (roundtable Photo/TV opportunity Group A)
Opening ceremony by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini followed by representatives of the UN and by representatives of the three main refugee-hosting countries in the region, Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan (live streaming)
+/- 10.00
Family photo (Photo/TV opportunity Group B)
+/- 10.15
First plenary session – political focus
Co-chaired by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura
+/- 12.00
First parallel session: inclusive human capital development and economic recovery for the region
Introductory remarks by European Commissioner Johannes Hahn and UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner (live streaming)
+/- 12.45
Press conference – Access for accredited journalists (Europa building press room)
(live streaming)
EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Head of OCHA Marc Lowcock and UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura
+/- 14.45
Second plenary session – regional focus
Co-chaired by European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi
+/- 14.45
Second parallel session: humanitarian protection issues inside Syria
Introductory remarks by European Commissioner Christos Stylianides, and UN Under-Secretary-General Marc Lowcock
+/- 16.30
Third plenary session – humanitarian focus
Introductory remarks by European Commissioner Christos Stylianides and by UN Under-Secretary-General Marc Lowcock (live streaming)
+/- 18.15
Closing remarks and announcement of final amount of pledges (live streaming)
Place: Charlemagne building, Brussels
08.00
Welcome of participants – Access for accredited journalist
09.00
Opening session
including statements by:
Commissioner Hahn, Commissioner Stylianides, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock and UN High commissioner Filippo Grandi
(available on EbS)
+/ – 09.20
Session I ‘Protecting Syrians across the region‘, co-chaired by Commissioner Stylianides and UN High Commissioner Filippo Grandi
+/- 11.30
Session II ‘How to better deliver assistance: challenges and best practices’ co-chaired by Christian Danielsson, DG NEAR, European Commission and Panos Moumtzis, Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis
+/- 13.20
Event ‘Education for the future’, with participation of Commissioner Christos Stylianides
+/- 14.30
Session III ‘Fostering inclusive economic and social development in hosting countries‘ co-chaired by Commissioner Hahn and Mourad Wahba, Assistant Administrator and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States
+/- 16.30
Session IV ‘Securing a future for children and young people: “No Lost Generation” and beyond for all youth in the region’ co-chaired by Commissioner Christos Stylianides and Omar Abdi, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF
+/- 18.00
Closing session
Specific registration needed, see here
+/- 13.00
Press point by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura following their meeting with Syrian civil society representatives
(available on EbS)