Conferences and Speeches
- "MasterCard cuts fees", Introductory remarks at press conference, Brussels, Neelie Kroes
1 April 2009
"I am particularly satisfied that today's changes come at a moment where we need increased efficiency in the banking sector, and when lower costs for merchants and consumers can be a real help out of the crisis.
As the banking sector knows very well by now, its future must lie in transparent, sustainable behaviour and services that offer clear benefits to its customers."
- "Competition, the crisis and the road to recovery", Address at Economic Club of Toronto, Neelie Kroes
30 March 2009
"It will take more than government cheques to beat this crisis.
Stopping people who want to take the easy road of protectionism and going soft on the competition rules is essential.
If we want to keep our social market economies and keep them competitive, we have to reject the easy road."
Court
- Commission welcomes judgment of the Court of Justice in French broadband case
2 April 2009
The Court of Justice ruled in case
C-202/07
on an appeal by France Télécom against a CFI decision of 30 January 2007 (case
T-340/03),
upholding a Commission decision of 16 July 2003 that found Wanadoo in breach of Article 82 EC Treaty for predatory pricing in the market of high-speed internet access.
The CoJ dismissed the appeal and confirmed the Commission decision entirely.
- Case C-431/07 Bouygues v Commission
2 April 2009
The Court of Justice ruled on an appeal by the French telecoms company Bouygues against a CFI judgment of 4 July 2008 (case
T 475/04),
upholding a Commission decision of 20 July 2004 (case
NN42/2004)
that found that reductions to fees payable by Orange and SFR for UMTS licences awarded by the French state did not constitute state aid.
The CoJ dismissed the appeal and confirmed the Commission's decision entirely.
- Case C-415/07 Lodato
2 April 2009
The Court of Justice ruled on a question referred to it by an Italian Court on the interpretation of the EU rules on employment aid and regional aid applicable to a dispute pending before that Court.
The question concerned the method of determining the net job creation of employment aid.
The CoJ ruled that for that purpose the applicable 1995 guidelines on aid to employment should be interpreted as meaning that the average number of annual working units for the year preceding recruitment should be compared with the average number of annual working units for the year following such recruitment.
- C-260/07 Pedro IV Servicios
2 April 2009
The Court of Justice ruled on a question referred to it by a Spanish Court concerning the interpretation of certain provisions regarding exemptions for vertical cooperation agreements from Article 81 EC Treaty.
In particular, the CoJ confirmed that the restriction of the buyer's ability to determine its sales price in a vertical agreement between two independent companies precludes the application of the Vertical Block Exemption Regulations n° 1384/83 and 2790/1999 to such an agreement as a whole.
Antitrust
- Commissioner Kroes takes note of MasterCard's decision to cut cross-border Multilateral Interchange Fees (MIFs) and to repeal recent scheme fee increases
1 April 2009
Commissioner Kroes indicated that, on the basis of information currently available, she sees no need to pursue MasterCard for non-compliance with a 2007 Commission decision that MasterCard's cross-border multilateral interchange fees (MIF) were in breach of Article 81 EC Treaty (see
IP/07/1959 and
MEMO/07/590).
Following the Commission 2007 Decision, MasterCard provisionally repealed its cross-border MIF on 12 June 2008 (see
MEMO/08/397)
but increased its scheme fees from October 2008.
MasterCard now has decided to apply a new methodology to its MIF for cross-border transactions which will result in a substantially reduced average weighted MIF level compared with that found to be in breach of Article 81.
MasterCard has also agreed to withdraw increases to its scheme fees introduced in October 2008 and to change its system rules, in order to increase tranparency and competition. (D-1)
- Commissioner Kroes notes MasterCard's decision to cut cross-border Multilateral Interchange Fees (MIFs) and to repeal recent scheme fee increases – frequently asked questions
1 April 2009
- Commission confirms unannounced inspections in the North Sea shrimps sector
31 March 2009
On the 24th and 25th of March 2009 Commission officials carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of companies active in the North Sea shrimps and related products industry in several Member States.
The Commission has reason to believe that the companies concerned may have violated Article 81 EC Treaty.
Mergers
- Commission approves proposed acquisition of Corinthos Power by Mytilineos and Motor Oil
31 March 2009
The Commission cleared the acquisition of joint control of electricity generator Corinthos Power of Greece by the two Greek companies Mytilineos Holdings and Motor Oil (MOH).
The Commission’s examination of the proposed transaction showed that the horizontal and vertical relationships between the parties' activities are limited. (B-3)
- Commission approves proposed acquisition of Azucarera by Associated British Foods
31 March 2009
The Commission cleared the acquisition of the Spanish company Azucarera Ebro by the UK company Associated British Food (ABF), the owner of British Sugar.
The Commission’s investigation confirmed that the merger would not lead to any significant change in the market structure and that the merged entity would continue to face several competitors. (E-4)
- Commission approves acquisition of tour operator Gold Medal by Thomas Cook
31 March 2009
The Commission cleared the proposed acquisition of the UK company Gold Medal International by Thomas Cook Group of the UK.
The Commission found that the activities of Thomas Cook and Gold Medal are largely complementary and that the transaction would lead to overlaps solely on the markets for short-haul and long-haul foreign package holidays.
On these markets, the increment brought about by the acquisition of Gold Medal is very limited. (F-4)
State Aid
- Commission authorises Dutch temporary scheme to grant aid of up to €500 000
2 April 2009
The Commission approved a Dutch measure to help businesses during the current economic crisis.
Aid of up to €500 000 per firm may be granted in 2009 and 2010 to businesses facing funding problems because of the current credit crunch.
The scheme meets the conditions of the Commission’s Temporary Framework for aid to business during the crisis (see
IP/08/1993).
In particular, it is limited in time and scope and concerns only companies that were not in difficulties on 1 July 2008. (H-1)
- Commission temporarily authorises illiquid asset facility for ING
31 March 2009
The Commission temporarily authorised the illiquid asset back-up facility provided by the Dutch State to the financial group ING, with final approval dependent on the result of an in-depth investigation.
The Commission found that the measure constitutes state aid.
Some of its provisions are in line with the Commission's guidance on the treatment of asset relief measures (see
IP/09/322),
whereas other provisions, including complex issues such as valuation of the portfolio, require a further in-depth analysis. (D-3
- Commission approves Spanish temporary scheme to support production of green cars
30 March 2009
The Commission approved a Spanish scheme allowing interest rate subsidies for the production of environmentally-friendly ('green') cars.
The scheme will make it easier for producers to invest in products with environmental benefits, the development of which otherwise might have been hampered by the economic crisis.
It scheme meets the conditions of the Commission’s Temporary Framework for state aid to business during the crisis (see
IP/08/1993).
In particular, the measure is limited in time and scope, takes into account the risk profile of the beneficiary and requires a significant environmental effort. (B-2)
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