Competition weekly news summary
10 October 2014

Conferences and Speeches

  • Weaving Europe’s single competition enforcement area
    European Competition Day, Rome, Joaquín Almunia
    10 October 2014
    "The level of cooperation between national and European levels of responsibility we have achieved in competition enforcement should be cited more often to confound populists and Euro-sceptics when they depict the EU as a bureaucratic behemoth."
    Read full speech >

Mergers

  • Commission clears acquisition of Dutch cable TV operator Ziggo by Liberty Global, subject to conditions
    10 October 2014
    Following an in-depth investigation, the Commission has approved the proposed acquisition of Dutch cable TV operator Ziggo by Liberty Global. The approval is conditional upon the implementation of a commitments package. The Commission had concerns that the merger, as initially notified, would have hindered competition by removing two close competitors and important competitive forces in the Dutch market for the wholesale of premium Pay TV film channels, and by increasing Liberty Global's buyer power vis-à-vis TV channel broadcasters, allowing it to hinder innovation in the delivery of audio visual content over the Internet (so-called over-the-top or "OTT" services). To address these concerns, Liberty Global offered to sell Film1, its premium Pay TV film channel. Liberty Global also committed to terminate clauses in channel carriage agreements that limit broadcasters' ability to offer their channels and content over the Internet, and not to include such clauses in future channel carriage agreements for eight years. These commitments remove the Commission's concerns.
    Read more >

Antitrust

  • Commission confirms unannounced inspections in biofuel sector
    9 October 2014
    On 7 October 2014, Commission officials carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of companies active in the production, distribution and trading of ethanol, a biofuel. These inspections took place in two EU Member States. They follow inspections that the Commission and the EFTA Surveillance Authority undertook in May 2013 in the crude oil, refined oil products and biofuel sectors. The Commission has concerns that price benchmarks may have been distorted through anti-competitive behaviour, including through possible collusion when submitting price information to a Price Reporting Agency.
    Read more >

State aid

  • Commission concludes modified UK measures for Hinkley Point nuclear power plant are compatible with EU rules
    8 October 2014
    The Commission has found revised UK plans to subsidise the construction and operation of a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset to be in line with EU state aid rules. During the in-depth investigation (see IP/13/1277), the UK has agreed to significantly modify the terms of the project financing. As a result, the state aid provided will remain proportionate to the objective pursued, avoiding any undue distortions of competition in the Single Market. The modifications also reduce UK citizens' financial contribution to the project.
    VP Almunia's statement >
    Press release >
  • Commission investigates transfer pricing arrangements on corporate taxation of Amazon in Luxembourg
    7 October 2014
    The Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to examine whether the decision by Luxembourg's tax authorities with regard to the corporate income tax to be paid by Amazon in Luxembourg comply with the EU rules on state aid.
    VP Almunia's statement >
    Press release >

Court

  • T-68/09 (car glass cartel)
    10 October 2014
    The EU General Court rules on Soliver's appeal against a Commission decision of November 2008 fining the company for its participation in a cartel in the markets for car glass. The GC annulled the Commission's decision in so far as it concerns Soliver.
    Read full judgment >
    Read more about Commission's 2008 decision >
  • C-467/13 P (aluminium fluoride cartel)
    9 October 2014
    The EU Court of Justice ruled on an appeal by ICF against a General Court judgment of June 2013. The GC had dismissed ICF's action for annulment of a Commission decision of June 2008 fining the company for for its participation in a cartel in the markets for aluminium fluoride. The EUCJ entirely dismissed the appeal and upheld the Commission's findings.
    Read full EUCJ judgment >
    Read full GC judgment >
    Read more about Commission's 2008 decision >
  • C-522/13 (preliminary ruling on state aid)
    9 October 2014
    The EU Court of Justice ruled on questions referred by a Spanish court regarding an exemption from property tax en favour of the Spanish state-owned shipyard Navantia. The EUCJ held that an exemption from property tax of a plot of land belonging to the State and made available to a state-owned company which produces from that plot goods that may be traded between Member States on markets open to competition may constitute incompatible state aid. However, this is for the referring court to determine, in the light of the relevant evidence in the dispute before it.
    Read full judgment >
  • T-542/11 Aluminium of Greece state aid case
    8 October 2014
    The EU General Court ruled on an appeal against a Commission decision of July 2011 ordering Greece to recover incompatible state aid from Aluminium of Greece. The GC annulled the Commission's decision.
    Read full judgment >
  • T-534/11 (access to documents in cartel investigation)
    7 October 2014
    The EU General Court ruled on an appeal by Schenker against a Commission decison refusing acces to the Commission's file on its investigation of the airfreight cartel. The GC held that the Commission should have granted access to the non-confidential version of the cartel decision and dismissed the action for the remainder.
    Read full judgment >

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Published by the Competition Directorate General of the European Commission. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Commission. Neither the Commission nor any person acting on its behalf is responsible for the use which might be made of the above information.

© European Union, 2014. Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

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