Brussels, 21/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - On 9 October during its plenary session in Brussels, the EP adopted, in the context of consultation procedure, the report by Italian MEP Della Vedova (Lista Bonino) on the proposal of regulation relating to control of company mergers. MEPs mainly welcome the effort made by the Commission with a view to opening debates on the possibilities of improving the breakdown of affairs between the Commission and national authorities. They also appreciate its resolve to grant maximum flexibility on procedural delays which give companies the possibility of notifying a merger before the agreement is signed and extending the time allowed for the second phase of the procedure. On the other hand, they consider it is not appropriate to align the Commission's powers of investigation in merger issues on the recently strengthened powers set out in the regulation on mergers as, they say, cases differ. MEPs, on the other hand, consider it is legitimate to introduce into the regulation the right, for persons called upon to make informative statements, not to answer and not to confess to anything (persons concerned must be informed of this right beforehand). The amendments proposed by the Socialist Group calling for worker representative information and participation were rejected.