Brussels, 28/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - The American group Microsoft has announced that it is planning to give up a hearing scheduled with the European authorities on 21 and 22 December in the context of the competition investigation opened concerning it, in order to give preference to a solution negotiated in an amicable way. We recall that the American group gave, on 16 November, its response to questions raised by the services of Competition Commissioner Mario Monti on the subject of possible abuse of dominant position (see on this subject EUROPE of 31 August, p.6). It had also called for a hearing that it had planned for the end of December. Convinced that it had answered all the questions of the European Executive, the American group thus hopes to avoid a hearing that would create further delays in a procedure that is already taking time. Tiffany Steckler, the spokesperson for the group in Paris, said: "Rather than focusing our energy on an oral hearing, we preferred to focus on continued discussions with the Commission in order to resolve the fears that it nurtures". Sweeping aside all criticism by third parties, which insist on their right to be heard by the Commission, Microsoft insisted on the fact that it was giving up a right, and that this gesture should be seen as a "guarantee of good will". Amelia Torres, the spokesperson for Commissioner Monti, did not for her part wish to "speculate" on the subject of this latest development in the Microsoft affair. She said: "the Commission notes the request made by Microsoft. The oral hearing opens a right to defence. If Microsoft does not wish for a hearing, the investigation will go ahead anyway (…) It is now up to the Hearing Officer to ensure that the rights of defence are respected and that the rules on this are well applied. The Officer will also decide on how the requests from third parties should be dealt with". She went on to add, moreover, that the Commission was currently examining Microsoft's response.