Competition
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Annual report shows
how competition policy contributes to boosting competitiveness
6 May 2014
The Commission's 2013 report on competition policy shows that
competition enforcement helps promoting growth and competitiveness
across the EU. Antitrust enforcement prevents dominant companies
from shutting out competitors from the market and creates the
conditions for lower input prices for EU industry. Merger control
keeps markets open and efficient. State aid policy maintains a level
playing field for companies in the Single Market and helps to steer
public resources towards growth-enhancing objectives. Competition
enforcement is also an essential counterpart to ex-ante regulation
and a key tool to preserve the EU's principal asset – the Single
Market.
Read more >
Mergers
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Commission approves
PVC joint venture between INEOS and Solvay, subject to conditions
8 May 2014
Following an in-depth investigation, the European Commission has
cleared the proposed combination of the European chlorvinyls
businesses of INEOS AG of Switzerland and Solvay S.A. of Belgium
into a newly created joint venture. The approval is conditional upon
the divestiture of certain of INEOS' suspension polyvinyl chloride
("S-PVC") plants and related assets. This divestment will provide
its purchaser with a self-standing S-PVC business capable of
competing with the new joint venture. The Commission had concerns
that the transaction, as originally notified, would have enabled the
merged entity to raise prices for S-PVC in North West Europe and for
sodium hypochlorite ("bleach") in the Benelux, since it combined the
two largest suppliers in these markets. The commitments offered
address these concerns.
Read more >
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Commission opens
in-depth investigation into proposed acquisition of Dutch cable
operator Ziggo by Liberty Global
8 May 2014
The Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess
whether the proposed acquisition of Dutch cable operator Ziggo by
the telecommunications group Liberty Global, headquartered in
London, is in line with the EU Merger Regulation. Liberty Global –
through its subsidiary UPC – and Ziggo both own a cable network in
the Netherlands through which they provide various retail pay TV and
telecommunications services. Both companies also operate a premium
pay TV film channel in the Netherlands. The Commission has concerns
that the transaction may reduce competition in a number of pay TV
and telecommunications markets in the Netherlands.
Read more >
State aid
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New handbook on EU
broadband state aid
8 May 2014
The Commission has published new guidance to help governments invest
in broadband. The handbook is useful for any public authority
investing in broadband or looking at co-funding projects with EU
structural and investment funds.
Read more >
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Commission approves
Greek regional aid map 2014-2020
7 May 2014
The Commission has approved Greek's map for granting regional
development aid between 2014 and 2020. The map is based on the new
regional aid guidelines adopted by the Commission in June 2013,
which set out the conditions under which Member States can grant
state aid to businesses for regional development purposes. The
guidelines aim to foster growth and greater cohesion in the Single
Market.
Read more >
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Commission approves
investment aid for UK airports St Mary's and Land's End
7 May 2014
The Commission has found public financing for infrastructure
renovations at the two UK airports St. Mary's and Land's End to be
in line with EU state aid rules. In particular, the Commission found
that one measure does not constitute state aid whereas the other
measure will further EU transport policy objectives without unduly
distorting competition in the Single Market. Indeed, the two
airports are important for connecting the remote archipelago of the
Isles of Scilly with the British mainland, to the benefit of both
residents and visitors.
Read more >
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Commission approves
regional aid map 2014-2020 for Denmark
7 May 2014
The Commission has approved Denmark's map for granting regional
development aid between 2014 and 2020. The map is based on the new
regional aid guidelines adopted by the Commission in June 2013,
which set out the conditions under which Member States can grant
state aid to businesses for regional development purposes. The
guidelines aim to foster growth and greater cohesion in the Single
Market.
Read more >
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Commission approves
measures for Waste-to-Energy project in Dublin, Ireland
7 May 2014
The Commission has found that a series of measures by the Dublin
local authorities to participate in the Waste-to-Energy project in
Poolbeg, Dublin, are in line with the EU state aid rules. Since the
project will be carried out on market terms, it does not involve any
state aid within the meaning of the EU rules.
Read more >
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Commission approves
restructuring aid in favour of Irish bank AIB
7 May 2014
The Commission has found that restructuring aid granted by Ireland
to Allied Irish Banks plc (AIB) and its subsidiary EBS is in line
with EU state aid rules. The restructuring plan sets out the right
path for AIB to return to long-term viability without further state
support, while ensuring that the bank and its owners contribute to
the cost of restructuring and limiting the distortions of
competition created by the aid.
Read more >
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Commission approves
French regional aid map 2014-2020
7 May 2014
The Commission has approved France's map for granting regional
development aid between 2014 and 2020 within the framework of the
new regional aid guidelines adopted by the Commission in June 2013.
The new guidelines set out the conditions under which Member States
can grant state aid to businesses for regional development purposes.
They aim to foster growth and greater cohesion in the Single Market.
Read more >
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Commission approves
Maltese regional aid map 2014-2020
7 May 2014
The Commission has approved Malta's map for granting state aid
between 2014 and 2020 within the framework of the Commission's new
regional aid guidelines adopted in June 2013. The new guidelines set
out the conditions under which Member States can grant state aid to
businesses for regional development purposes. They aim to foster
growth and greater cohesion in the Single Market.
Read more >
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Commission approves
amended financing regime of Belgian broadcaster RTBF
7 May 2014
The Commission has concluded that the financing regime of Belgium's
French language public service broadcaster RTBF, in its amended
form, is in line with EU state aid rules. In particular, Belgium has
made several commitments to clarify RTBF's public service remit and
ensure that RTBF's public financing is limited to what is necessary
to fulfil its tasks as a public service broadcaster. This will
ensure that RTBF does not use public money for commercial activities
(where it competes with private players that receive no such
subsidies). Belgium has now one year to implement the commitments.
Read more >
Court
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Case C-414/12 P
(Carbonless paper cartel)
30 April 2014
The EU Court of Justice ruled on an appeal by Bolloré against a
General Court ruling that had dismissed its action for annulment of
a Commission decision of June 2010. By that decision, the Commission
had re-imposed a fine on Bolloré for participating in a cartel in
the market for carbonless paper, after the EUCJ had annulled the
Commission's initial decision for procedural reasons, in so far as
it concerned Bolloré. The EUCJ dismissed the appeal and fully upheld
the earlier GC judgment and the Commission's 2010 decision. The EUCJ
found in particular that Bolloré's rights of defence had not been
infringed and rejected Bolloré's argument that it was no longer in a
position to defend itself because of the long period of time that
had elapsed since the infringement.
Read full EUCJ judgment >
Read full GC ruling >
Read
more about Commission's 2010 decision >
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