Competition Policy in the EU

EU gives Google 'weeks' to satisfy competition concerns — 22 May 2012, 13:36 CET

European Union anti-trust chiefs have asked Google to come up with "remedies" to satisfy Brussels concerns the Internet search king has abused its dominant market position.

EU approves Greek state aid for sale of T Bank — 16 May 2012, 15:28 CET

European Union competition authorities announced provisional approval on Wednesday for around 680 million euros of Greek state aid to support the sale of troubled T Bank.

EU clears Angolan LNG joint venture — 16 May 2012, 11:53 CET

European Union authorities announced Wednesday they have cleared a liquefied natural gas joint venture in Angola by BP, Chevron, Eni, Sonangol and Total.

Brussels gives green light to EDF control of Italy's Edison — 11 May 2012, 23:07 CET

The European Commission Friday gave the green light to the takeover of the Edison group, Italy's second biggest power company, by French electricity giant EDF.

EU opens state-aid probe into Romania energy contracts — 25 April 2012, 23:11 CET

The European Commission said Wednesday it had launched a probe into preferential power tariffs granted by Romania's Hidroelectrica to several firms in breach of state-aid rules.

Italy launches Europe's first private high-speed train — 22 April 2012, 16:51 CET

Italy launched Europe's first private high-speed train service this week, as the country looks towards the more liberal economy that Prime Minister Mario Monti wants to put on the rails.

Italy's first private high-speed train makes inaugural trip — 20 April 2012, 15:07 CET

Italy's first private high-speed train, launched by Ferrari head Luca di Montezemolo's company NTV and boasting sleek interiors and a cinema carriage, made its inaugural journey on Friday.

EU approves Sony, EMI music publishing deal — 19 April 2012, 22:30 CET

European competition regulators Thursday approved a $2.2 billion takeover by Japan's Sony and Emirates investors of EMI Music Publishing which holds the rights to global pop stars such as Rihanna.

EU approves J&J takeover of Synthes — 19 April 2012, 14:05 CET

The European Commission approved Thursday a takeover of the US surgical equipment company Synthes by pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson in exchange for J&Js divestment of other units.

Virgin Atlantic to appeal EU approval of bmi takeover — 15 April 2012, 19:22 CET

Virgin Atlantic on Sunday said it planned to appeal an EU decision to approve the takeover of airline bmi by IAG, the parent group of British Airways, claiming that the deal harms competition.

Google likely next in antitrust push on tech giants — 12 April 2012, 09:32 CET

Google is likely the next major tech target of US and EU trust-busters after the US Justice Department sued Apple Wednesday for illegally colluding with publishers in the e-book market, say legal experts.

EU says Apple, publishers make offers to end antitrust probe — 12 April 2012, 15:59 CET

Apple and four publishing houses have made proposals aimed at ending a European Union probe into price fixing in the e-book market, the European Commission said on Wednesday.

EU probes Motorola in patent war with Apple, Microsoft — 03 April 2012, 14:27 CET

The European Commission opened on Tuesday two antitrust investigations against Google's Motorola Mobility following complaints from Apple and Microsoft in a patent war between the technology giants.

Expedia, TripAdvisor file EU complaint against Google — 03 April 2012, 15:31 CET

The travel websites Expedia and TripAdvisor have filed complaints as part of a probe into whether Google is abusing its position on the Intenet, a Commission spokesman said on Tuesday.

EU probes Google's Motorola in Apple, Microsoft patent war — 03 April 2012, 18:22 CET

European regulators have opened two antitrust investigations against Motorola Mobility, bought by US Internet giant Google, in the latest chapter of an escalating patent war with Apple and Microsoft.

EU clears Lufthansa's sale of bmi to British Airways — 30 March 2012, 22:50 CET

EU antitrust regulators gave a conditional greenlight Friday to a bid by International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), owner of British Airways, to buy rival bmi from Lufthansa.

EU court orders Telefonica to pay antitrust fine — 29 March 2012, 15:35 CET

The European Court of Justice upheld an antitrust fine of 152 million euros on Thursday against Spanish telecommunications giant Telefonica for abuse of a dominant market position.

EU fines 8 firms for fixing prices on window mountings — 28 March 2012, 17:42 CET

The European Commission on Wednesday fined eight companies 86 million euros ($115 million) for price fixing between 1999 and 2007 in the window mountings sector, the EU said.

EU fines freight companies for price fixing — 28 March 2012, 15:19 CET

The European Commission on Wednesday fined 14 firms a total of 169 million euros in four separate cases involving price fixing in the air freight transport sector.

Brussels Airlines threatens to leave Belgium: report — 28 March 2012, 13:10 CET

Brussels Airlines, Belgium's biggest carrier, threatened to relocate if the government did not offer tax breaks to help it compete against Ireland's low cost giant Ryanair, De Morgen daily reported on Wednesday.

EU probes takeover of US aerospace firm Goodrich — 27 March 2012, 10:18 CET

The European Union's antitrust watchdog has opened an in-depth investigation into United Technology Corp's $18.4-billion bid to take over Goodrich Corp, both US aerospace firms.

EU approves UK's Royal Mail debt, pension relief plan — 21 March 2012, 15:41 CET

EU anti-trust regulators on Wednesday approved British government plans to provide pension relief and slash the debt of Royal Mail Group as part of its privatisation.

UPS makes EUR 5.2 bn move for TNT Express — 19 March 2012, 22:13 CET

US express delivery giant United Parcel Service said Monday it would pay 5.16 billion euros for Dutch firm TNT Express in a move analysts said aimed to take advantage of expanding markets a shift to road transport.

Football: Polish watchdog faults Euro 2012 ticket rules — 16 March 2012, 15:52 CET

Poland's consumer protection office on Friday said it had launched legal action against UEFA over rules governing tickets for the looming European football championships in the country.

EU probes five telecoms giants over possible collusion — 14 March 2012, 17:25 CET

EU anti-trust chiefs said Wednesday they have asked five European telecoms giants to answer concerns over possible industry collusion.