Competition Weekly e-news

The European Commission has found that Poland's €95 million measure in favour of LG Chem Group (‘LG Chem') is in line with EU State aid rules. The investment aid will support the expansion of LG Chem's battery cell production facility for electric vehicles in the Polish Dolnośląskie region. The aid will also contribute to the development of the Dolnośląskie region, whilst preserving competition.

The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules Spain's map for granting regional aid from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2027, within the framework of the revised Regional aid Guidelines.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a Czech scheme to partially compensate energy-intensive companies for higher electricity prices resulting from indirect emission costs under the EU Emission Trading System.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a Spanish scheme to partially compensate energy-intensive companies for higher electricity prices resulting from indirect emission costs under the EU Emission Trading System.

On 15 March 2022, the European Commission has conducted unannounced inspections at the premises of companies and associations active in the automotive sector located in several Member States. In parallel, the Commission has sent out formal requests for information to several companies active in the automotive sector.

The European Commission has approved unconditionally, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of MGM Holdings Inc. by Amazon.com Inc. The Commission concluded that the transaction would raise no competition concerns in the European Economic Area.

The European Commission has adopted a new notice on the enforcement of State aid rules by national courts. The New Enforcement Notice replaces the 2009 Enforcement Notice, providing updated practical guidance for national judges facing private claims to remedy the unlawful granting of State aid, i.e. without a prior Commission approval or an exemption from notification.

We are pleased to announce that a number of DG COMP colleagues have written papers which have been nominated in the Concurrences Antitrust Writing Awards 2022. The two nominated articles fall under the “Soft Law” category. 

• Concerted Practices: "Competition policy in support of Europe's green ambition";
• Cross-Border Issues: "Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on foreign subsidies distorting the internal market".