The European Commission Friday said it was seeking further clarification from Lufthansa (LHA.XE) with regards to the latest proposal the airline submitted to get antitrust clearance for its planned takeover of Austrian Airlines AG (AUA.VI).

Lufthansa's latest offer was sent to the commission late Thursday in the form of a letter signed by the chairman of Lufthansa, said the commission's antitrust spokesman Jonathan Todd. We "cannot qualify it as formal or informal" offer yet, Todd said. The commission is studying it carefully and "seeking further information," he said.

It is too early yet to say whether the offer is sufficient or not to get the needed antitrust clearance for the deal by the Lufthansa imposed 31 July deadline, Todd added.

-By Peppi Kiviniemi, Dow Jones Newswires; +3227411483; peppi.kiviniemi@dowjones.com