Brussels, 18/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 18 October, the European Commission agreed to a request from Spain to assess under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the Swiss group Holcim's cement operations in Spain by Mexican rival Cemex. On the basis of the elements submitted by Spain, the Commission considers that the transaction threatens to impact competition in the Spanish cement, concrete and aggregates markets since Cemex would acquire a stronger position in these markets in Spain. The Commission concluded that the transaction threatens to affect competition within Spain and that the Commission is the best placed authority to assess the potential cross-border effects of the transaction. The Commission will now ask Cemex to notify the project. Cemex' proposed acquisition of Holcim's operations in Spain and the Czech Republic does not meet the turnover thresholds set by the EU Merger Regulation for mergers that must be notified to the European Commission, but the Commission felt that it was the best-placed authority to deal with the potential cross-border effects of the transaction. In another transaction, Holcim proposes to acquire a number of Cemex assets in Germany, France and the Netherlands. Holcim notified the proposed acquisition to the Commission on 3 September 2013, because the transaction met the turnover thresholds of the EU Merger Regulation. The deadline for the Commission's initial decision in this case is currently 22 October 2013. The interlinked transactions were announced on 28 August and are intended to strengthen the two companies' strategic positions in Europe. (FG/transl.fl)