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Leonard Ghione
The article discusses the problem of retroactive application of the European cartel fining guidelines and argues for a cessation of this practice. This fundamental problem of European fining policy is analysed in the light of the recent fines levied on the members of the detergent-cartel and Commissioner Almunias statements at the 15th International Conference on Competition.
- Leonard Ghione — 22 April 2011, 15:13 CET
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Leonard Ghione
- European anti-trust fines between predictability and unpredictability - the recent case of the detergent cartel — 22 April 2011, 15:09 CET
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Companies and the scientific community have long criticized the Commission for its unpredictability when it comes to the calculation of anti-trust fines. At last week’s International Conference on Competition in Berlin the current EU Commissioner for Competition Joaquin Almunia announced that he was committed to further increase the transparency of his agency’s methods of calculation. Despite the intended changes the recent fines levied against the three leading producers of detergents in Europe – Henkel, Unilever and Procter & Gamble – shows that the calculation of European anti-trust fines remains to a large degree unpredictable.