EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes announced that the EC will not pursue MasterCard for failing to comply with a 2007 Commission decision that the card network’s cross-border multilateral interchange fees constituted a restrictive business practic. After repealing its cross border fees in June 2008, MasterCard increased other fees in October of that year, raising the Commission’s concerns. Recently, however, MasterCard has implemented a new […]
Category Archives: EU News
Heat Stabilizer Cartel Investigation
March 28, 2009 – 1:29 pm
On March 23, 2009, The EC recently sent a Statement of Objections to a number of heat stabilizer companies relating to potential cartel activity. Heat stabilizers are used in PVC products to improve rigidity, appearance, and thermal resistance.
North Sea Shrimp Cartel Investigation
March 28, 2009 – 1:19 pm
On March 24-25, 2009, the EC inspected the premises of companies involved with North Sea shrimp and related products. The inspections occurred in several member states based on cartel concerns. Company names have yet to be released.
EC Inspects French Electricity Company
March 12, 2009 – 1:16 pm
On March 10, 2009, EC and French competition authority officials inspected the electricity company EDF based on concerns that the company may be abusing a dominant market position to rause whole electricity prices in France.
EC Considers Responses to Statement of Objections to Prestressed Steel Suppliers
February 12, 2009 – 5:53 pm
The EC has confirmed an October 2008 Statement of Objections was sent to companies supplying prestressed steel regarding expressing concern about cartel behavior. The EC is now considering the responses.
EU Approves Dutch TV/Radio Regulatory Proposal
February 12, 2009 – 5:00 pm
The EC has approved a Dutch regulatory proposal intended to allow alternative radio and TV signals to compete more effectively with those offered by the Netherlands’ largest cable operators.
French Competition Counsel Voids IPhone Exclusive Deal
February 4, 2009 – 2:39 pm
Update February 2009: An appellate court in Paris has upheld the decision that Orange SA may not be the exclusive service provider for Apple’s I-Phone in France. The decision conflicts with those in other countries, and Orange SA plans to seek review before the French high court. As it has throughout the world, Apple reached […]
Undersea Cable Manufacturers Investigated by EU
February 3, 2009 – 11:37 am
The EC has confirmed late January unannounced inspections at the premises of unamed high voltage undersea cables manufacturers.
DOJ & EC Approve Sun Microsystems/Oracle Merger
February 1, 2009 – 1:45 pm
Update January 2010: The EC agreed to let the merger move forward without conditions. Update November 2009: The EC issued a statement of objections to the merger expressing concern over the fate of Sun’s open source database. The DOJ reiterated its position that sufficient competitive threats existed in the market to prevent anticompetitive effects from […]
EC Investigates Standard & Poor’s
January 23, 2009 – 5:03 pm
The EC has begun investigating Standard & Poor’s conduct towards users of International Securities Identification Numbers (ISINs), specifically forcing financial institutions, such as banks and investment funds, to pay licensing fees for the use of US ISIN codes in their own databases.