Brussels: The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Nicollin SAS, Soci©t© M©diterran©enne De Nettoiement SAS ('SMN'), Nicollin Holding Environnement ('NHE'), Nicollin Eau, and MP3D Groupe, all of France, by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Inc. of the US. The transaction primarily involves the sectors of waste-management and water services.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not raise competition concerns, as the companies involved are not active in the same or vertically related markets. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More details regarding the merger can be found on the Commission's competition website under case number M.12545.
In a related humanitarian update, ahead of World Humanitarian Day, key figures from the European Commission, including Kaja Kallas and Hadja Lahbib, highlighted the challenges faced by aid workers globally. They noted the increasing threats to humanitarian workers, where 82 aid workers have been killed, 39 kidnapped, and 97 wounded in 2026 alone. The statement emphasized the importance of protecting civilians and aid workers as mandated by international humanitarian law.
The statement also addressed ongoing humanitarian crises in regions such as Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine, stressing the need for continued humanitarian diplomacy and rapid responses to ensure aid reaches those in need. The EU, as a major humanitarian donor, remains committed to supporting aid workers through initiatives like the Protect Aid Workers rapid-response programme, which assisted 782 workers in 2025 across 25 countries.