Competition Weekly e-news

The European Commission has approved an approximately €800 million (CZK 19 billion) Czech scheme to support companies affected by increased energy costs in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies. The new Framework amends and prolongs in part the Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted on 23 March 2022 to enable Member States to support the economy in the context of the current geopolitical crisis, already amended on 20 July 2022 and on 28 October 2022.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €6.5 billion German scheme to partially compensate energy-intensive companies to address the risk of carbon leakage from higher fuel prices resulting from the German fuel emission trading system.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €26.7 million Spanish measure to support Cobre Las Cruces S.A. (‘CLC') in upgrading its refinery in Gerena, Sevilla. The measure will contribute to the EU's strategic objectives relating to the European Green Deal and to regional development.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €1.5 billion French measure to support ProLogium Technologies (‘ProLogium') in researching and developing a new generation of batteries for electric vehicles.  The measure will contribute to the achievement of the strategic objectives of the European Green Deal and the EU battery strategy.

The European Commission has approved a €2.36 billion (approximately HUF 880 billion) Hungarian scheme for accelerated investments in strategic sectors to foster the transition towards a net-zero economy, in line with the Green Deal Industrial Plan. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies. The new Framework amends and prolongs in part the Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted on 23 March 2022 to enable Member States to support the economy in the context of the current geopolitical crisis, already amended on 20 July 2022 and on 28 October 2022.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €246 million Dutch scheme to support the production of renewable hydrogen. The measure aims to contribute to the development of renewable hydrogen in line with the objectives of the EU Hydrogen Strategy and the European Green Deal. The scheme will also contribute to the objectives of the REPowerEU Plan to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast forward the green transition.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €28.8 million Austrian measure to support the modernisation of Sandoz GmbH penicillin production site in Tyrol. The measure will help to maintain in the EU the last fully integrated production of amoxicillin, the most used penicillin type, contributing to the security of supply of essential and live-saving medicines. The measure will contribute to strengthening the continuity and security of supply of medicines in line with the Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €40 million German support measure for the construction and operation of a new land-based liquefied natural gas (‘LNG') terminal in Brunsbüttel. The measure will contribute to the security and diversification of energy supplies in Germany and help end dependence on Russian fossil fuels in line with the REPowerEU Plan.

The European Commission has approved a €5 billion (CZK 125 billion) Czech scheme to support large energy producers in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework adopted by the Commission on 23 March 2022, based on Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU'), recognising that the EU economy is experiencing a serious disturbance. Such Temporary Crisis Framework was amended on 20 July 2022 and on 28 October 2022, and replaced by the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023.  

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of Figma by Adobe. The Commission is concerned that the transaction may reduce competition in the global markets for the supply of interactive product design software and for digital asset creation tools.

The European Commission has decided to open a formal investigation to determine whether, when acquiring Lagardère, Vivendi breached the notification requirement and “standstill obligation” set out in the EU Merger Regulation, as well as the conditions and obligations attached to the Commission's decision to clear the Vivendi/Lagardère transaction.

The European Commission has informed Pierre Cardin and its licensee Ahlers of its preliminary view that the companies may have breached EU antitrust rules by restricting cross-border sales of Pierre Cardin-licensed clothing, as well as sales of such products to specific customers.

The European Commission has opened a formal investigation to assess whether Microsoft may have breached EU competition rules by tying or bundling its communication and collaboration product Teams to its popular suites for businesses Office 365 and Microsoft 365.

The European Commission is currently evaluating Regulations 1/2003 and 773/2004, which form the framework for the enforcement of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU. In this context, DG Competition is organising a specialised  interactive workshop to gather stakeholder views on the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and EU added value of this enforcement framework.

The workshop will take place in Brussels on Thursday, 12 October 2023, from 9:00 until 17:30.