EU Competition Policy

Today marks the 20 years of the European Competition Network (ECN) - a remarkable journey of cooperation to enforce EU Competition law ❗ 🤝 The ECN was established to ensure consistent and effective enforcement of EU competition law across the Member States. This network has been a pivotal platform for communication among the Commission and national competition authorities (NCAs). ℹ Over the years, the ECN has created a robust framework for sharing insights, experiences, and best practices. This collaborative approach has been crucial in addressing the evolving challenges of the modern economy, from the rise of digital markets 👩💻 to supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic 👩⚕️ and global events like the war in Ukraine. Beyond fostering a common competition culture across Europe, the ECN has maintained a proactive stance ⬇  📌 Between May 2004 and December 2023, NCAs have adopted more than 1,700 decisions based on Article 101 and/or Article 102  📌 The NCAs within the ECN launched, on average 140 investigations and adopted 75 decisions each year.  📌 Additionally, the Commission averaged 23 investigations and 11 decisions per year. Reflecting on two decades of success, it's clear that the ECN is a true success story. Its work must continue to be nurtured and protected as we move forward 🔭 Here's to many more years of collaborative enforcement of EU competition law! 🌟 To know more about the ECN 👇  🔗 https://europa.eu/!C4P3dK #ECN #EUCompetition #Enforcement #EuropeanCompetitionNetwork

🔴 Today, the European Commission has launched the whistleblower tools for the landmark Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act 👇 🗣 On the Digital Markets Act, the tools will make it possible for individuals to provide the Commission with inside information valuable for identifying and uncovering harmful practices and any violations of the obligations by gatekeepers. ⚖ Both legislative instruments aim, among others, to address the dependence of business users and end users of the online platforms under supervision. Therefore, it is particularly important that potential interested parties have a channel to provide information without the fear of retaliation. ℹ Whistleblowers can provide relevant information anonymously or not, in any of the EU official languages and in any relevant format (e.g. reports, memos, email exchanges, etc). 🔐 The whistleblower tools offer a secure way of reporting such information. For all other information 👇 🔗 https://europa.eu/!R9j7rJ EU Digital & Tech #Whistleblower #DMA #DSA #EUCompetition #DigitalMarketsAct

🔴 The Commission has today designated Apple with respect to iPadOS, its operating system for tablets, as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act 👇 📅 Apple now has six months to ensure full compliance of iPadOS with the DMA obligations. 🔍 On 5 September 2023, the Commission opened a market investigation to assess whether Apple's iPadOS, despite not meeting the quantitative thresholds laid down in the DMA, constitutes an important gateway for business users to reach end users and therefore should be designated as a gatekeeper. The Commission's investigation found that Apple presents the features of a gatekeeper 🚪 in relation to iPadOS, as among others: 📌 Apple's business user numbers exceeded the quantitative threshold; 📌 End users are locked in to iPadOS; 📌 Business users are locked in to iPadOS ℹ On the basis of the findings of the investigation, the Commission concluded that iPadOS constitutes an important gateway for business users to reach end users, and that Apple enjoys an entrenched and durable position with respect to iPadOS. All information ⬇ 🔗 https://europa.eu/!7y3HYT #DigitalMarketsAct #DMA #iPad #Apple #Gatekeeper

🔴 The European Commission sends Statement of Objections over proposed acquisition of Air Europa by IAG 👇 ℹ The Commission informed International Consolidated Airlines Group of its preliminary view that IAG's proposed acquisition of sole control of Air Europa may restrict competition ⛔ in the market for passenger air transport services, in particular for routes within, to and from Spain. 🔍 As a result of an in-depth investigation the Commission is concerned that customers may face increased prices and/or decreased quality of services after the transaction. 📜 A Statement of Objections is a formal step in an investigation, where the Commission informs the companies concerned in writing of the objections raised against them. The sending of a Statement of Objections does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation. ⚖ IAG now has the possibility to reply to the Commission's Statement of Objections and to put forward remedies to address the preliminary competition concerns identified by the Commission. 📅 It can decide to submit remedies at any time of the proceedings until the remedy deadline, which currently falls on 10 June 2024. All information ⬇ https://europa.eu/!fW7G87 #EUMergerControl #EUCompetition #AirEuropa #IAG

DG Competition participated in the HANNOVER MESSE to engage with stakeholders about key themes like IPCEIs, the Digital Markets Act, and the Foreign Subsidies Regulation 👇 In Hannover, DG COMP engaged with stakeholders coming from scale-ups, start-ups, and SMEs, all keen to understand how these frameworks can create opportunities for growth 📈 We also delved into the global perspective with crucial questions such as 📌 How can international partners leverage these instruments❓ 📌 How does EU competition policy contribute to a level playing field for European businesses❓ It is crucial to keep engaging with innovators and discussing the evolving dynamics and opportunities of EU competition. Digital Markets Act ⬇ 🔗 https://europa.eu/!QF6KGT Foreign Subsidies Regulation ⬇ 🔗 https://europa.eu/!B6TqMq IPCEIs ⬇ 🔗 https://europa.eu/!pvDdV4 #EUatHM24 #EUCompetition #FSR #DMA #IPCEIs #SMEs #StartUps

Companies merging through acquisitions or joint ventures may bring benefits to the economy ✔ However, some mergers can reduce competition and ultimately harm consumers through higher prices, reduced choice or quality, or less innovation ⛔ This year marks the 20th anniversary of the coming into force of the reformed European law that regulates Merger Control Policy: the European Union Merger Regulation 📜 Watch here below what the EU Merger control is all about 👇  🔗 https://lnkd.in/gha6WBdA Last week, DG Competition held the "EU Merger Regulation 139/2004: 20 Years that Made a Difference" Conference to mark the anniversary. You can find all the information and the recording of the event at the link below ⬇  🔗 https://europa.eu/!XcqgQK #EUMergerRegulation #EUMergerControl #20yearsEUMR

The European Commission seeks feedback on commitments offered by Vifor over possible anticompetitive disparagement of iron medicine 👇 💬 The Commission invites comments on commitments offered by Vifor to address competition concerns over the alleged disparagement of its closest - and potentially only – competing treatment in Europe for intravenous iron treatment, Pharmacosmos' Monofer. 🔍 The Commission's investigation Following the opening of a formal investigation in June 2022, the Commission preliminarily found that Vifor is dominant in several national markets for the provision of intravenous iron medicines. ⛔ The Commission is concerned that Vifor may have restricted competition in the market for intravenous iron treatment by illegally disparaging Monofer, an iron deficiency treatment by its closest competitor in Europe, Pharmacosmos. ℹ The Commission has indications that for many years, Vifor may have disseminated potentially misleading information regarding Monofer's safety, primarily targeting healthcare professionals, which may have unduly hindered Monofer's uptake in the European Economic Area. Vifor's conduct appears to be aimed at hindering competition against its own blockbuster high-dose intravenous iron treatment medicine, Ferinject. 📜 The Commission invites all interested parties to submit their views on Vifor's proposed commitments within one month from the publication of a summary of the proposed commitments in the EU's Official Journal. ℹ The full text of the commitments will be available on the Commission's competition website. All information ⬇ https://europa.eu/!CB6HtF #EUCompetition #EUAntitrust #Pharma

Closing remarks at "EU Merger Regulation 139/2004: 20 Years that Made a Difference" from Deputy Director General for Mergers Guillaume Loriot 🗣️ 💬 "Increasing market concentration shows our work is not done, we will need to continue to persevere. We will be judged on our ability to adapt when new challenges come along. But also, if the tool is not broken, let’s not try to fix it". #20yearsEUMR #EUCompetition #EUMergerControl

The "EU Merger Regulation 139/2004: 20 Years that Made a Difference Deeply" continues with an insightful dialogue at the Fireside Chat 🔥 Together with 🎙️Prof. Mario Monti 🎙️Sir Philip Lowe Moderated by DG Competition Director General, Olivier Guersent 🗣️ Follow the conference live here 👇 📺 https://europa.eu/!XcqgQK #20yearsEUMR #EUCompetition #EUMergerControl

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager kicks off the "EU Merger Regulation 139/2004: 20 Years that Made a Difference" with a keynote speech 🗣️ You can read the full speech here 👇 🔗 https://europa.eu/!Gg6XXD #20yearsEUMR