On 18 February 2022, the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) sanctioned two pharmaceutical wholesalers, imposing a total fine of EUR 29.8 million on Pharma Belgium-Belmedis SA, after a 40% reduction for cooperation. Febelco CV received immunity from fines for having disclosed the existence of the cartel. Belgium: Pharmaceutical wholesalers sanctioned for collusion This is the BCA’s […]
Jedi Blue Agreement (Google / Facebook)
On 11 March, the European Commission and the Competition and Markets Authority of the United Kingdom announced investigations into a suspicious agreement between Google and Facebook (not yet Meta at that time) in September 2018 related to online advertising. Both agencies believe that the agreement may have breached their respective competition rules on anti-competitive agreements […]
The Bundeskartellamt has conducted unannounced dawn raids at the German premises of cable manufacturers
In January 2022, the Bundeskartellamt conducted unannounced dawn raids at the German premises of cable manufacturers and other companies active in the market of cable manufacturing. According to the statements published by the companies, these inspections concern the undertakings Nexans, Leoni, and Prysmian. The undertakings declared their willingness to cooperate with the Bundeskartellamt. The Bundeskartellamt […]
Spain: collusion in the markets related to football rights acquisitions
On 27 December 2021, the Spanish appeal court confirmed an earlier decision of the Spanish Competition Authority fining Telefónica and Distribuidora de Television Digital (DTS) for colluding in the acquisition of football rights and adjacent downstream markets. The Spanish court also upheld the imposed fine of 15.5 million euros. Spain: collusion in the markets related […]
Illegal information exchange between cigarette manufacturers in the Netherlands and Belgium
On 29 September 2021, the Dutch Competition Authority fined tobacco manufacturers British American Tobacco (BAT), Philip Morris, Japan Tobacco International (JTI), and Imperial Tobacco 82 million euros for anti-competitively sharing confidential information about future prices. In the Netherlands, the infringement lasted from July 2008 to July 2011. On 1 October 2021, two days after the […]
Antitrust Damages in the Ad-Tech Sector
On 22 June 2021, the European Commission confirmed the opening of a formal antitrust investigation into whether Google previously abused or is currently abusing its dominant position in the online intermediation of programmatic display advertising business. Prior to the Commission’s announcement, the French Competition Authority (FCA) had already handed down a decision on 7 July 2021, including a EUR 220 million fine, finding that Google breached Article 102 TFEU and the French Competition Act in the same advertisement sector.
Les dommages et intérêts dans les affaires de position dominante : l’exemple de Google Shopping
Si une multitude d’actions en réparation sont régulièrement déposées devant les juridictions de divers pays de l’Union européenne en rapport avec l’article 101 TFUE (pensez, par exemple, à l’abondance des litiges contre les constructeurs de camions), il n’en va pas encore de même pour les affaires d’abus de position dominante. Bien que la Directive régissant […]
Private damages in dominance cases: the example of Google Shopping
While a plethora of damages claims are regularly filed in front of jurisdictions in various countries of the European Union related to Article 101 TFEU (think, for example, the abundance of litigation against truck manufacturers), the same is not yet true for abuse of dominance cases. Notwithstanding that the Damages Directive is equally applicable to […]