In the Monopolies Commission’s view, the merger is necessary to safeguard, in the long term, the hospital’s status as a university hospital and the continued existence of the Faculty of Medicine in Greifswald, as the Commission considers that no alternative exists that would be less detrimental to competition. As the Competition Commission considers that the overall economic benefits of this merger outweigh the associated restrictions on competition, it recommends that the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Technology grant ministerial authorisation.