Brussels, 08/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - To answer the European competition authorities' uncertainties about their planned merger, Arbed, Usinor and Aceralia have proposed to sell off various business activities and have now published the details. In France, they are planning to sell of Cofrafer, an Arbed/Aceralia subsidiary, and the Bamessa company in both Spain and Portugal. These sales should solve the competition issues in the steel industry; In terms of coated steel for the automobile industry, another sector of concern to the European competition authorities, the partners have proposed selling the Sollac Strasbourg hot dip galvanising line in France, along with several joint ventures such as Galmed (in Spain) and Lusosider (in Portugal). In Northern Europe, they are prepared to sell off the Dudelange galvanising line (in Luxembourg) and the Italian Arvedi galvanising line. The Commission is expected to announce its decision by 23 November (see EUROPE of 27 October, p.13).