(ANSA) - Brussels, January 8 - The European Commission has accepted a petition from France and Germany to examine Fincantieri's acquisition of Chantiers de l'Atlantique (the new name of STX), the antitrust authority said. The examination will look into the risk that the takeover could damage European and international competition in the shipbuilding sector in a significant way.

French presidential sources said "The European Commission is following the dossier, and France has not asked for absolutely anything.

"It must not in any way be seen as a form of political reprisal".

