EU to rule on Parmalat law

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BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters) -- The European Commission said on Wednesday it expected to rule next month on an Italian decree that has been passed to help solve the problems facing crippled food group Parmalat.

Commission spokesman Reijo Kempinnen told a news conference that Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein had reported to the Commission on the affair, but that it "was much too early to draw any conclusions at this stage."

Bolkestein's spokesman, Jonathan Todd, added that the Commission expected to rule on whether the decree breaches European Union rules in February.

Competition affairs spokesman Tilman Lueder said the Commission had knowledge of the decree from public sources, but it had not been formally notified by the Italian government, which would include Rome's arguments about state aid.

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