Brussels, 15/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - France has asked the European Commission to return the Lagadère/Vivendi Universal dossier,so that it can examine the compatibility of the take-over operation with the competition rules. This request automatically extends the decision deadline, currently 22 May, to 5 June. Asked about the possibility of sending the dossier back in this way, Commissioner Monti, who met the President of the American Federal Trade Commission last Wednesday, declared in the sidelines of the conference that the Commission would examine this request very carefully. The Commissioner's spokesperson, Amelia Torres, recalled the criteria that the French authorities would have to fulfil in order to obtain the Commission's authorisation (see EUROPE of 10 May, p.12).