(Telecompaper) The European Commission (EC) has decided not to refer the planned acquisition of Telefonica UK (O2) by Hutchison to the UK competition authority. The EC decided that it was better placed to ensure consistency in the application of merger control rules in the European mobile telecoms sector. Hutchison 3G UK notified the EC of its plans to acquire control of Telefonica UK in September. In October, the UK competition authority submitted a request for the EC to refer all or part of the assessment of a case to it. The EC opened an in-depth investigation into the proposed deal on 30 October and has until 18 April 2016 to make a final decision.