Conferences and Speeches
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Beyond the banking crisis: another chapter in Ireland's history of resilience
Federation of International Banks in Ireland, Dublin, Joaquín Almunia
17 June 2011
"As a result of the Irish authorities’ strategy to build the new banking system on two pillar banks, the Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank will work in a de facto duopoly in the Irish market.
As European Commissioner for Competition, let me say that this prospect will require close surveillance, because duopoly may hamper competition in Ireland’s banking market.
I expect that the Irish authorities will ensure the best conditions for efficient competition in the market. [...]
Ireland needs an open and contested market for financial services and products to finance its growth in the future."
Read full speech >
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Public services for a better Europe
CEEP (The European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public services), Budapest, Joaquín Almunia
16 June 2011
"I attach a great deal of importance to this reform because public services lie at the core of my vision of Europe’s social market economy.
As an economist by training, I believe that an efficient, well regulated, and free market is the best model for our economic behaviour and relations – at least, the best model we have managed to find yet.
But, as a politician and as a citizen, I know that this does not mean that the market can be elevated to the rank of a universal model.
In our model of society principles and values rank higher than economic interests.
There are certain services and public goods that cannot be left to market forces alone, because we have evidence that, when they are, the goods are not provided to the many but only to a few – and in some cases they are not provided at all."
Read full speech >
Antitrust
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Commission consults on guidance for quantifying harm in antitrust damages actions
17 June 2011
The Commission has opened a public consultation on a draft guidance paper on quantifying harm in actions for damages based on breaches of Article 101 or 102 of the TFEU.
Go to consultation page >
Mergers
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Commission refers Liberty Global's planned acquisition of German cable company KBW to German competition authority
17 June 2011
The Commission referred the assessment of the proposed acquisition of Kabel Baden-Württemberg by Liberty Global Inc. to the German competition authority, at the latter request.
After a preliminary investigation, the Commission found that the proposed transaction may significantly affect competition in the market for the provision of free-TV services to housing associations, where contracts with tenants are negotiated collectively, a big market in Germany.
Read more >
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Commission approves acquisition of automotive business of Keiper Recaro Group by Johnson Controls
17 June 2011
The Commission approved the acquisition of the automotive business of Keiper Recaro Group, which comprises metal structures and mechanisms for car seats, by Johnson Controls, a supplier of automotive systems and components.
The Commission concluded that the parties will continue to face competition from other suppliers and that car manufacturers have an important role in the selection of suppliers of seat structures and mechanisms for their car models.
Read more >
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Commission approves acquisition of biomedical company Beckman Coulter by technology group Danaher
17 June 2011
The Commission cleared the proposed acquisition of sole control of Beckman Coulter by Danaher, both of the US.
The Commission's investigation confirmed that the merged entity would continue to face competition from a number of other strong competitors and that customers would still have sufficient alternative suppliers in all markets concerned.
Read more >
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Commission clears acquisition of Columbian Chemicals by Birla Group
15 June 2011
The Commission has cleared the proposed acquisition of US-based Columbian Chemicals by Indigold Carbon, controlled by the Indian Aditya Birla Group, both worldwide producers of carbon black.
Carbon black is a chemical product used mostly in the production of tyres but also in printing inks and plastics.
The Commission concluded that although the merger would create one of the three largest companies in the sector, European customers would continue to enjoy healthy competition.
Read more >
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Commission clears acquisition of Parmalat by Lactalis
14 May 2011
The Commission investigated the competitive effects of the proposed acquisition in the different markets for dairy products such as the procurement of raw milk, fresh milk, long life milk, cream and cheeses.
It found that the proposed transaction would not significantly modify the structure of the relevant markets as the increments in market shares are negligible and a number of credible competitors would continue to exercise a competitive constraint on the merged entity.
Read more >
State aid
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Commission opens in-depth investigation into financing of infrastructure projects at German Leipzig/Halle airport
15 June 2011
The Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to verify whether loans and capital injections granted to the Leipzig/Halle airport, in Eastern Germany, to finance new infrastructure projects are in line with EU state aid rules.
At this stage, the Commission considers that Germany has not demonstrated that the public funding, which covers 100 % of the total investment costs, is justified and proportionate.
Read more >
Court
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8 appeals in Hydrogen Peroxide and Perborate cartel
16 June 2011
The General Court ruled on appeals against a Commission decision of 3 May 2006, fining several companies for operating a cartel in the market for hydrogen peroxides and perborates.
The Court largely upheld the Commission's decision and dismissed the actions brought by FMC Foret, FMC, Caffaro, SNIA and Solvay Solexis.
The Court annulled the Commission's decision only for L'Air Liquide and Edision, which were held liable as parent companies, and reduced the fine for Solvay from around €167 million to around €139 million.
Read full judgment in case T-185/06 L'Air liquide / Commission >
Read full judgment in case T-186/06 Solvay / Commission >
Read full judgment in case T-191/06 FMC Foret / Commission >
Read full judgment in case T-192/06 Caffaro / Commission >
Read full judgment in case T-194/06 SNIA / Commission >
Read full judgment in case T-195/06 Solvay Solexis / Commission >
Read full judgment in case T-196/06 Edison / Commission >
Read full judgment in case T-197/06 FMC / Commission >
Read more about the initial Commission decision >
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7 appeals in International Removers cartel
16 June 2011
The General Court ruled on appeals against a Commission decision of 11 March 2008, fining several companies for operating a cartel in the market for international removal services.
The Court largely upheld the Commission decision and dismissed the actions brought by Ziegler, Team Relocations, Amertranseuro International Holdings and Putters International.
The Court annulled the Commission's decision for Stichting Administratiekantoor Portielje and Verhuizingen Coppens and slightly reduced the fine for Gosselin Group.
Read full judgment in case T-199/08 Ziegler / Commission >
Read full judgment joined cases T-204/08, T-212/08 Team Relocations e.a./Commission >
Read full judgment joined cases T-208/08, T-209/08 Gosselin e.a. / Commission >
Read full judgment in case T-210/08 Verhuizingen Coppens / Commission >
Read full judgment in case T-211/08 Putters International / Commission >
Read more about initial Commission decision >
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Cases T-235/07 and T-240/07 Heineken and others / Commission
16 June 2011
The General Court ruled on appeals against a Commission decision of 18 April 2007, fining several companies for operating a cartel on the beer market in the Netherlands.
The Court reduced the fines for Heineken and Bavarian from a total of around €242 million to a total of around €218 million and upheld the Commission's decision for the remainder.
Read full judgment in case T-235/07 Bavaria / Commission >
Read full judgment in case T-240/07 Heineken / Commission >
Read more about Commission decision >
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Prejudicial ruling in case C-360/09 Pfleiderer
14 June 2011
The Court of Justice ruled on a prejudicial question referred by a German Court, regarding the interpretation of the antitrust Regulation 1/2003.
The Court held in particular that Regulation 1/2003 does not preclude a private claimant under EU competition law from being granted access to documents relating to a leniency procedure involving the perpetrator of that infringement.
In the absence of EU rules binding Member States on the matter, it is for the courts of the Member States, on the basis of their national law, to determine the conditions under which such access must be permitted or refused by weighing the interests protected by EU law, i.e. the effectiveness of leniency programmes and the right to claim damages.
Read full judgment >
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