Competition weekly news summary
18 March 2016

Competition

  • Public hearing on Commission's ECN+ initiative
    The European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and the Commission's competition department are co-organising a public hearing on empowering national competition authorities to be more effective enforcers. It will take place on Tuesday 19 April 2016 in Brussels.
    More on the hearing >
    More on the Commission's ECN+ initiative >
  • Commissioner Vestager meets Chinese counterparts in Beijing to discuss competition policy and economic reform
    16-17 March 2016
    During her visit to Beijing from 16 to 17 March, Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager had various meetings with her counterparts in the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom), the State Administration of Industry and Commerce (SAIC), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), and the Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC), to discuss cooperation on competition issues between the EU and China, as well as China's reform agenda.
    Read more >
  • Competition: Commissioner Vestager agrees with Japan Fair Trade Commission to prepare upgrade of EU/Japan Cooperation Agreement
    15 March 2016
    European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager and Japan Fair Trade Commission Chairman Kazuyuki Sugimoto have agreed to prepare the upgrading of the existing EU/Japan Cooperation Agreement on Anticompetitive Activities so as to allow for the exchange of evidence during investigations. The agreement was reached during the current visit of Commissioner Vestager to Japan for meetings with Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) Chairman Sugimoto and other political counterparts to discuss the role of competition policy to enhance competitiveness.

Antitrust

  • e-commerce sector inquiry finds geo-blocking is widespread throughout EU
    Initial findings from the Commission's e-commerce sector inquiry show that geo-blocking is widespread in the EU. This is partly due to unilateral decisions by companies not to sell abroad but also contractual barriers set up by companies preventing consumers from shopping online across EU borders.
    Read more >
    Frequently asked questions >
  • Commission publishes report on functioning of Insurance Block Exemption Regulation
    17 March 2016
    The Commission has published a report on the functioning of the Insurance Block Exemption Regulation (IBER), which exempts certain types of cooperation in the insurance sector from EU antitrust rules under certain conditions. The IBER came into force on 1 April 2010 and will expire on 31 March 2017. Before that day the Commission will need to decide on whether to renew the Regulation in its current form, modify it or let it lapse. The report and staff working document published today present the preliminary findings of the review process.
    Read more >
  • Commission confirms unannounced inspections in sector of kraft paper and industrial paper sacks
    16 March 2016
    On 15 March 2016 Commission officials carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of several companies active in the sector of kraft paper and industrial paper sacks. The inspections took place in several Member States. The Commission has concerns that the companies concerned may have violated Article 101 TFEU, which prohibits anticompetitive practices such as price fixing and customer allocation.
    Read more >

State aid

  • Commission approves aid for Finnish LNG terminal at Hamina
    18 March 2016
    The Commission has found that Finland's plans to grant €28 million to build a small scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Hamina, on Finland's South-East coast, are in line with EU state aid rules. The project improves security of energy supply in the region and contributes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, in line with EU energy and environmental objectives and without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market.
    Read more >
  • Steel industry: Commission takes action to preserve sustainable jobs and growth in Europe
    16 March 2016
    The Commission has issued a Communication setting out how the European steel sector can overcome its short-term and long-term challenges with the support of Member States and the EU institutions. The Communication addresses a wide range of areas, from tackling structural overcapacities to defence mechanisms against unfair trade practices. Moreover, EU state aid rules allow Member States to support the steel industry in a number of ways, including investments in certain cross-border technology, research and innovation, and renewable energy projects.
    Read more >
  • GBER guide up-dated
    The Commission's competition department has published the second part of its guide on the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), that exempts unproblematic state aid measures from prior Commission scrutiny. This second part deals with questions and answers to Articles 36 to 58. The guide therefore now covers all Articles of the GBER. It is meant to familiarise Member States authorities and aid beneficiaries with the GBER and help them to apply the rules to their specific situation.
    Go to GBER guide >

Court

  • T 103/14 Frucone Kosice state aid case
    16 March 2016
    The EU General Court ruled on an action for annulment of a Commission decision of October 2013 finding that debt write-offs in favour of Slovak beverages producer Frucona Kosice were incompatible with EU state aid rules. The Court annulled the decision.
    Read full judgment >
    Read more about the Commission's 2013 decision >

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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, 2016. Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

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