European Commission President Manuel Barroso announced yesterday his choice of Joaquin Almunia to succeed Neelie Kroes as Europe’s new competition commissioner. Barroso, a former member of the Spanish Parliament (1979 to 2004) and one-time socialist candidate for Spanish prime minister (2000), arrives at a time of vigorous antitrust enforcement in Europe. During Kroes’ five-year tenure, the EC imposed record-breaking fines against chip manufacturer Intel Corporation for abusing its dominant position and European utilities E.ON AG and GDF Suez for market allocation. The European Parliament, which is scheduled to hold hearings in January, must first approve Almunia before he can begin his four-year term.
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