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To: shades who wrote (50619)	5/5/2006 6:37:52 AM
From: shades	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 116555

ECOFIN: EU Mins Criticize Obstacles To Bank Mergers . BRUSSELS (Dow Jones)--European Union finance ministers Friday criticized continued impediments to cross-border bank mergers in the region. In a statement released at the end of a morning meeting, the ministers said "the fragmentation of retail markets is an obstacle to cross-border consolidation" and said it is in favor of promoting integration of retail markets. They said "that where factors such as taxation create obstacles to cross-border consolidation, the (E.U.) Commission is invited to specify these and consider possible ways to overcome them." The ministers said they want to see open and integrated markets that feature healthy, fair competition for business among financial institutions. In a separate statement, the ministers called on more harmonization of rules regulating banks across the region. -By Adam Najberg, Dow Jones Newswires; 49 170 565 9181; adam.najberg@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires May 05, 2006 06:16 ET (10:16 GMT) Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.- - 06 16 AM EDT 05-05-06