Brussels, 10/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - The French group Lagardère will have to reduce its market share in book distribution in France by some 40% in order to obtain the European green light for its plan to buy up Vivendi Universal Publishing (VUP), indicated the agency Reuters, quoting a source close to the dossier. The European Commission is concerned by the repercussions of this operation bringing together the two leading lights of French-language book publishing, and decided in June to open an in-depth inquiry. According to various estimates, the new outfit would enjoy between 65 and 70% of French-language book distribution. Lagardère apparently started negotiations in July to find a possible solution, and is said to be considering shedding activities in educational publishing and reference publications. It has seemingly made contacts to this end with the Bayard group with reference to Larousse, Bordas and Nathan, and several ideas are in the pipeline: selling in block, or in lots. The Commission has sent out many questionnaires over the last few months about distribution to the various parties, to Lagardère, its rival publishers and independent editors (Gallimard, Le Seuil, La Martinière). It is to send a statement of objections at the end of October, laying down its concerns, and Lagardère will have to respond by proposing changes to its operations. The cut-off date for the closure of the inquiry has been set for 10 January 2004.