EU defends Ryanair decision

A spokesperson for the European Commission has rejected Ryanair's claims that it acted unfairly in blocking a merger between the airline and rival Aer Lingus.

Earlier this week, Ryanair's chief executive, Michael O'Leary, said that the decision was unfair and possibly illegal. He added that there was a political motivation behind the decision.

However, European Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd, speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, reject the claim.

He said: "The fact is that all Commission merger decisions are subject to challenge by the Court of First Instance and ultimately the Court of Justice so it would make absolutely no sense for the Commission to take politically motivated decisions.

"We cannot do so, we would not do so, we do not do so."

Meanwhile, the airline confirmed that it would appeal what it called "the EU Commission's unlawful decision to prohibit the merger with Aer Lingus".

Mr O'Leary commented: "We look forward to the European courts overturning this unprecedented and unlawful prohibition."

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