- The European Union's Judicial Authority, or Simply, the EU's Highest Court of Justice
In the discussions about combining universities Mannheim and Heidelberg**, both institutions have lodged an objection with the Higher Regional Court in Düsseldorf. They're contesting the Bundeskartellamt's ban on the merger, as reported by a representative from the Ministry of Science. Since the Cartel Office is situated in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Düsseldorf court holds jurisdiction over the case.
The reasons for the objection will be presented within a month, according to the representative. "The points made in this submission will be drawn from an in-depth assessment of the 230-page ban decree." This assessment by the hospitals and their legal counsel is still in progress. No prediction can be made regarding the duration of the proceedings at the Higher Regional Court. Simultaneously, the request for federal ministry approval of the hospital merger is being prepared at the Federal Ministry of Economics.
Mannheim is suffering significant financial losses
The state of Baden-Württemberg backs the University Hospital Heidelberg, while the city of Mannheim backs its local hospital. Both parties are pushing for a hospital merger to rescue the financially struggling location in Mannheim. They also anticipate additional benefits, such as in research and regional healthcare services.
Following a thorough investigation period, the Cartel Office declared towards the end of July that the projected disadvantages of such a merger, particularly for patients, would outweigh the potential benefits. It was highlighted that the healthcare facility competition between hospitals would diminish and potentially vanish in certain specialist fields.
The Higher Regional Court in Düsseldorf will consider the objections raised by Mannheim and Heidelberg universities against the Bundeskartellamt's ban on their merger, as mentioned in the objection's submission. The Commission, as part of the EU's regulatory framework, may also need to adopt implementing acts to apply this ban, should the merger proceed against the Cartel Office's decision.
