Conferences and Speeches
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Public policies in digital markets: reflections from competition enforcement
Chatham House Competition Policy Conference 2014, London, Joaquín Almunia
30 June 2014
"The issues posed by Google and other prominent players in the digital era point to the need for EU-wide, common approaches.
As to the continuing debates involving Google, each one of the various concerns and allegations should be tackled using the most suitable policy instrument.
The commitments proposed by Google last February have become the focal point of all the concerns and fears that consumers, competitors, and governments have about the company.
This is unfortunate, because it distracts from the design, debate and enforcement of the right policy mix.
Having said this, the practices and business models adopted by digital-industry players will continue to be closely monitored by DG Competition.
This sector will remain a top priority for EU competition policy for many years to come."
Read full speech >
Mergers
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Commission clears acquisition of E-Plus by Telefónica Deutschland, subject to conditions
2 July 2014
Following an in-depth investigation, the Commission has approved the proposed acquisition of Dutch Telecom operator KPN's German mobile telecommunications business E-Plus by Telefónica Deutschland.
The approval is conditional upon the full implementation of a commitments package submitted by Telefónica.
The Commission had concerns that the merger, as initially notified, would have removed two close competitors and important competitive forces from the German mobile telecommunications market and that it would have further weakened the position of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) and Service Providers to the detriment of consumers. To address these concerns, Telefónica submitted commitments ensuring that new competitors will enter the mobile telecommunications market in Germany and that the position of existing competitors is strengthened. These commitments remove the Commission's concerns.
VP Almunia's statement >
Press release >
Frequently asked questions >
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Commission approves acquisition of ONO by Vodafone
2 July 2014
The Commission has cleared the proposed acquisition of Grupo Corporativo ONO by Vodafone.
Both companies provide fixed and mobile telecommunications services in Spain.
The Commission concluded that the transaction would not raise competition concerns, as the parties' activities are largely complementary:
ONO's main activity is related to fixed telecoms, whereas Vodafone is mainly active in mobile telecoms.
Read more >
State aid
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Commission orders Belgium to recover incompatible state aid from financial cooperative ARCO
3 July 2014
Following an in-depth investigation, the Commission has concluded that a Belgian guarantee scheme for shareholders of financial cooperatives was incompatible with EU state aid rules.
In particular, the guarantee conferred a selective advantage to the Belgian financial cooperative ARCO, the only beneficiary of the scheme, who now has to pay back the undue advantage it received.
Read more >
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Commission approves liquidity support scheme for Bulgarian banks
30 June 2014
The Commission has found a Bulgarian liquidity support scheme for banks to be in line with EU state aid rules.
The Commission has concluded, in particular, that the state aid implied by the liquidity measure is proportionate and commensurate with the need to ensure sufficient liquidity in the banking sector in the particular circumstances.
Read more >
Competition
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Commission calls for proposals 2014 for training of national judges OPEN
2 June 2014
The Commission has published the 2014 call for proposals for training national judges in competition matters.
The purpose is to co-finance projects aimed at promoting training and judicial cooperation on the enforcement of EU competition rules for national judges.
This includes public and private enforcement of antitrust and state aid rules.
The aim is to ensure a consistent application of EU competition rules.
The deadline for applications is 29/08/2014.
Go to call for proposals >
Court
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Joined cases T-319/12, T-321/12 Ciudad de la Luz state aid case
3 July 2014
The General Court ruled on appeals by Spain and Ciudad de la Luz against a Commission decision of 2012 ordering Spain to recover €265 million incompatible state aid from the Ciudad de la Luz film studio complex in Valencia.
The GC dismissed all claims and entirely confirmed the Commission's findings.
Read full judgment >
Read more about Commission's 2012 decision >
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C-84/13 P Electrabel / Compagnie Nationale du Rhône merger
3 July 2014
The EU Court of Justice ruled on an appeal by Electrabel against a General Court judgment that had upheld a Commission decision of June 2009 imposing a €20 million fine on Electrabel for acquiring de facto control over a French electricity generator, Compagnie Nationale du Rhône, in December 2003, without having sought prior Commission approval under EU merger rules.
The EUCJ upheld the earlier GC ruling and entirely confirmed the Commission's findings.
Read full EUCJ judgment >
Read full GC judgment >
Read more about Commission's 2009 decision >
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