[JURIST] The European Court of Justice [official website] ruled Tuesday that a merger between Tetra Laval [corporate website] and Sidel [corporate website] can proceed over the objections of the European Commission's antitrust office [EU Competition website]. The decision is one of the first setbacks to the EU's antitrust division and is expected to reduce its influence somewhat. In its opinion, the court said the appeals court had properly rejected arguments by the European Commission against the merger. The Commission blocked the merger four years ago on the basis that it would reduce competition in liquid food packaging. Read the court's full opinion [text] and a press release [PDF] on the court's ruling. Tetra Laval welcomed the ruling in a press release [PDF]. AP has more.