We want a certain reciprocity launches Laurent Tardif

European players of the cable are trying to mobilize politicians against the project for the purchase of the Draka Dutch by a Chinese industrial. After Nexans letter to the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, it is the turn of the Italian Prysmian to defend its interests in Brussels. The Pirelli ex-filiale will come to plead his case Friday at the competitiveness Council of the EU, where you can find several Ministers, including Valérie Pécresse and Eric Besson.

"We want to explain why Prysmian proposal is interesting and why the take-over of a Chinese in this sector can be detrimental to the European level", explains the "Echos" Laurent Tardif, President and CEO of Prysmian France. Nexans and Prysmian covet both their Dutch competitor, in the context of consolidation of the suppliers of cables in Europe. But their offers have made a surprise bid from Chinese Xinmao.

Last week, President and CEO of Nexans, Frédéric Vincent, stopped the commission on competition policy, holding that Brussels penalizes its industrial with heavy fines for cartel while opening the door to non rivals.

A European issue

PRYSMIAN seeks to gain the support of the Dutch policy really responded to the offer of Xinmao on Draka. Italian hopes to put pressure on the principal shareholder, the Fentener van Vlissingen family. But not only. To Prysmian, it is a European issue: as Draka is very present in the cables for telecommunications, the development of the very high speed in Europe, financed from public funds, risk of benefit mainly to Chinese if the offer of Xinmao leads. "There is no consistency between launch major projects in the optical fibre and let out a European industrial sector", forward Laurent Tardif. Xinmao indicated, however, that his intention was to "maintain a solid base to the Netherlands."

Another argument advanced by Prysmian: Group wants to fight playing with Chinese competitors. "A year ago, we sought to take control of the Tongguang society, and we oppose a rejection of the Chinese authorities." "We want a certain reciprocity", launches Laurent Tardif.

Prysmian solution would be an increase in its offer, but the Italian industrial it for the time being ruled out. His message was clearly heard by the European Commissioner in charge of industry, Antonio Tajani.

Passage yesterday in Paris, he said that he had "nothing against foreign investment in Europe, once at the end of the competition rules are respected." "But if this results in a transfer of expertise outside of Europe, then this is a political issue." Antonio Tajani advocates a system of protection comparable to that in force in the United States, the Committee on foreign investment (CFIUS).

The Commissioner, however, has not agreed in the sense of industrialists who criticize the increase of fines. In response to the letter of Nexans, Joaquin Almunia argued last week the anti-cartel policy of Brussels, but called for "progressive convergence of competition rules." in the various jurisdictions in the world

In short, this is not in Brussels to soften its policy, but to the other authorities of the hardening.