Brussels, 23/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission decided to strengthen the role of the Hearing Officer in the merger reviews and anti-trust proceedings. This original function, created in 1982, only exists in terms of competition and has as aim, on the one hand, to safeguard the parties' right to defence (understanding of objections from the Commission, access to the dossier and possibility to answer objections orally or in writing) and, on the other hand, to guarantee the...