EU warns action will be taken against protectionism in GM’s sale of car unit Opel

EU warns against protectionism in GM sale of Opel

BRUSSELS — The European Union’s competition commissioner has warned she will take action if there is any protectionism in the sale of General Motors Co.’s European unit Opel.

The Belgian government says it wants the EU Commission to investigate the Opel deal amid concern that Germany allegedly sought to protect its own plants at the cost of others.

GM announced Thursday that Opel would be sold to Canadian auto parts maker Magna and Russia’s Sberbank, a solution Germany had pushed for. Under the deal, an Opel plant in Antwerp will likely close while all the German plants would not.

EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes was quoted as saying Saturday that “if something happens against the rules. I will take action.”

Kroes says state support should not be tied to factory locations.