Competition Policy in the EU

Latest business news about the Competition policy of the European Union.

The EU's Competition Policy is about applying rules to make sure that companies compete with each other and innovate and offer good prices to consumers. The European Commission is responsible for Europe as a whole. It keeps an eye on companies to make sure they don't club together to share the market between them or don't act in a way to exclude would-be competitors. If they step out of line then it can impose considerable fines on them which can be up to 10% of their turnover.

FACT SHEETS

EC Competition Contacts

LATEST NEWS

EU cartel inspectors raid electricity trading exchanges — 07 February 2012, 19:06 CET

EU regulators raided a series of electricity trading exchanges Tuesday, probing fears that wholesalers may be operating an energy cartel, the European Commission said.

US bows to EU, Japan in 'zeroing' trade row — 06 February 2012, 21:16 CET

The United States on Monday said it has bowed to demands from the European Union and Japan to end its controversial "zeroing" anti-dumping practice.

Commission prohibits proposed merger between Deutsche Börse AG and NYSE Euronext - guide — 01 February 2012, 18:55 CET

The European Commission has prohibited, on the basis of the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed merger between Deutsche Börse and NYSE Euronext, as it would have resulted in a quasi-monopoly in the area of European financial derivatives traded globally on exchanges. Together, the two exchanges control more than 90% of global trade in these products. The Commission says its investigation showed that new competitors would be unlikely to enter the market successfully enough to pose a credible competitive threat to the merged company. The companies offered, in particular, to sell certain assets and to provide access to their clearinghouse for some categories of new contracts, but overall, the commitments were inadequate to solve the identified competition concerns.

EU opens antitrust probe against Samsung — 31 January 2012, 23:03 CET

European regulators have opened an antitrust probe against Samsung Electronics to determine whether the South Korean group has distorted competition in European mobile device markets.

Delta, Air France, Alitalia face EU anti-trust probe — 29 January 2012, 14:10 CET

European regulators opened Friday an anti-trust probe into a cooperation deal between Delta, Air France-KLM and Alitalia on flights between the United States and Europe.

Deutsche Post to appeal EU state aid ruling — 25 January 2012, 14:32 CET

Deutsche Post, Europe's largest mail carrier, said Wednesday it would appeal against an EU order to repay up to 1.0 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in state aid because it broke anti-trust rules.

Belgium, German post ordered to pay back state aid — 25 January 2012, 14:40 CET

The postal services of Belgium and Germany, Bpost and Deutsche Post, were ordered by the European Commission on Wednesday to pay backhundreds of millions of euros of state subsidies deemed unfair.

Google hit by new anti- trust complaint in Europe — 24 January 2012, 17:15 CET

The French online shopping website Twenga has filed a complaint against Google at the Commission, accusing the search giant of abusing its dominant position to eliminate competition.

Europe steelmakers file complaints against China — 09 January 2012, 15:34 CET

European steel-makers have filed an anti-subsidy complaint against cut-rate China imports blamed for undermining the EU industry, the European Steel Association said Monday.

EU orders Hungary to recover aid from Malev airline — 09 January 2012, 14:03 CET

The European Commission ordered Hungary on Monday to recover aid granted to national airline Malev, saying the tens of millions of euros in financing were illegal.

EU approves Dexia rescue, probes restructuring — 21 December 2011, 18:44 CET

European Union competition authorities gave themselves three months from Wednesday in which to determine if a giant rescue of Belgian-French bank Dexia can succeed.

EU probes Thomson Reuters competition commitments — 14 December 2011, 23:40 CET

The European Commission is launching consultations to see if commitments by global news agency Thomson Reuters are enough to remedy concerns over its dominant market position.

Ferrari boss unveils Italy's first private high-speed train — 13 December 2011, 18:27 CET

Ferrari head Luca di Montezemolo unveiled Italy's first private high-speed train near Naples on Tuesday, with his company NTV planning to take on a state monopoly in the sector starting next year.

Panasonic fined in European price fixing case — 08 December 2011, 10:12 CET

Japanese electronics giant Panasonic said Thursday it has been fined 7.7 million euros for violating European competition law in connection with sales of refrigerator parts.

US Justice Department confirms e-book industry probe — 07 December 2011, 23:38 CET

The US Justice Department has confirmed that it is conducting an investigation into the electronic book industry, a day after the European Commission announced a similar probe.

EU opens antitrust probe into Apple's e-book deals — 06 December 2011, 17:00 CET

European antitrust officials launched a probe on Tuesday to determine whether iPad maker Apple and five international publishers struck illegal deals to fix the price of e-books in Europe.

EU launches US bio-ethanol anti-dumping probe — 25 November 2011, 15:53 CET

The EU announced Friday it has launched an anti-dumping investigation against the United States over federal and state tax credits and other subsidy support for producers of ethanol fuel.

Italy faces EU court action for restricting investment — 24 November 2011, 13:02 CET

The European Commission threatened on Thursday to take Italy to court for enabling the state to restrict investment in strategic private companies such as telecommunications and energy.

EU takes Germany to court over Volkswagen protection law — 24 November 2011, 17:10 CET

The European Commission decided on Thursday to haul Germany before the top EU court for failing to scrap a law that protects car giant Volkswagen from potential takeover bids.

EU probes ball bearings industry — 08 November 2011, 17:02 CET

European anti-trust authorities launched surprise inspections Tuesday in companies that produce ball bearings for the automotive industry in several European Union states.

EU anti-trust authorities probe Johnson & Johnson, Novartis — 21 October 2011, 15:59 CET

European anti-trust investigators said Friday they have opened a probe into deals between drugs giants Johnson & Johnson and Novartis.

EU approves Samsung-Seagate hard disc business sale — 19 October 2011, 13:04 CET

European anti-trust regulators approved Wednesday the sale of Samsung Electronics' hard-disc-drive business to US firm Seagate Technology for $1.375 billion in cash and stock.

EU stages anti-trust raids in financial derivatives sector — 19 October 2011, 10:22 CET

European anti-trust officials raided companies in several EU states involved in financial derivatives linked to the Euro Interbank Offered Rate (EURIBOR), the European Commission said Wednesday.

Chiquita, Pacific Fruit face banana cartel allegation — 12 October 2011, 16:44 CET

The European Commission accused Pacific Fruit and Chiquita of illegally fixing the prices of bananas they sold in southern Europe and fined Pacific Fruit 8.9 millions euros ($12.25 million).

EU approves Microsoft's Skype takeover — 07 October 2011, 23:59 CET

European anti-trust officials approved on Friday US technology giant Microsoft's $8.5 billion takeover of Internet voice and video leader Skype.