Spanish workers accept Opel plan

Opel and Vauxhall employ about 45,000 people in Europe

Magna's takeover of Opel has moved a step closer after Spanish workers voted to accept plans that save their factory from closure and sees fewer jobs cut.

The decision to ratify a deal struck with unions halts the threat of strikes at Figueruelas near Zaragoza.

The EU has set itself a 27 November deadline to decide if the proposed sale of General Motors' European arm to Magna represents a competition risk.

But observers say there is unlikely to be any objection to the sale.

EU scrutiny

There were concerns that Spanish and UK plants may take the brunt of any job cuts, following a takeover by Magna.

So reaching deals with unions in each country was seen as an important step for the sale to be approved.

Magna had already reached provisional agreements with unions in Germany, the UK, Poland, Austria and Belgium - where Opel also had factories.

Vauxhall - which is the British brand of Opel - has plants in Luton in Bedfordshire and Ellesmere Port in Cheshire.

The European Commission has been watching the deal closely - to ensure that state aid is not misused.

Officials in Brussels had raised concerns about the proposed deal because of the large amount of aid being offered by the German government.

But the commission has been assured that the 4.5bn euros ($6.7bn; £4.1bn) government funding was available to any potential bidders - and not just Magna.

'Thorny' problem

Magna has agreed to reduce from 1,350 to 900 the number of jobs it will cut at the Zaragoza factory.

It also committed to the Zaragoza plant retaining 70% of its current production until 2013.

After that the share would go up to 72%, with the remainder going to a factory in Germany.

"The job cuts are the thorny part of the deal," said Jose Juan Arceiz, leader of a committee representing Spanish Opel workers.

"But at least now the factory has a future, which wasn't the case when we began negotiations five months ago."