Brussels, 03/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has authorised, with conditions, the merger of the American groups Alcoa and Reynolds Aluminium, which will create the world's largest aluminium manufacturer. It has also given its go-ahead to Dow Chemical's acquisition of Union Carbide, in the chemicals and plastics sector. In response to the Commission's concerns about risks of the creation of dominant positions on several market segments, the parties to both mergers have made an undertaking to sell some of their activities to third parties. EUROPE will be back with details.