A t the beginning of December, the European Commission published a so-called “simplification package” for its merger control proceedings. The package changes the filing forms and some aspects of the procedure for review of transactions under the E.U. Merger Regulation. It applies from January 1. Most of the changes are very technical and, as indicated by the title given by the commission to the package, actually aim at reducing the burden on companies that need to get Brussels’ approval for a transaction.

But the “simplification package” is not all sweetness and light for companies making E.U. merger filings. In fact, the package also makes the E.U. filing more onerous by significantly increasing the scope of internal documents that need to be provided with the filing (equivalent to documents requested by items 4(c) and 4(d) of the form for premerger notification under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act).