15/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - The Luxembourg government has joined forces with the services of the merchant bank JP Morgan to advise on Mittal Steel's takeover bid of Arcelor. The bank will be in charge of providing an “independent and professional opinion” on the interests of the State as main shareholder in the European metals group, explained a press release. This appointment coincides with the submission of the draft takeover bid directive for transposition into national law and for which the minister for the economy and external trade, Jeannot Krecké affirmed that “this will also take place in the same terms, even if there is no Mittal takeover bid for Arcelor”. This transposition is nothing but a protectionist measure, insisted Mr Krecké.