Italy's top antitrust enforcer, Antonio Catricala, told an Italian newspaper that a merger between two Italian energy companies Enel, the country's largest utility, and Eni, an oil and gas company, would violate Italy's antimonopoly laws. According to this Reuters.com article, Italy antitrust head: Enel-Eni merger to breach law, talk of such a merger began after France announced that it would approve the consolidation of two French energy companies, Gaz de France and Suez, when it learned of "Enel's possible bid for Suez." Concerning the "debate about protectionism and economic patriotism," a debate occurring in the US as well, "Catricala said neither [the] market nor consumers needed national champions." Here, here.
