Competition
Commission to strengthen anti-subsidies measures by end of year
The European Commission will propose by the end of 2019 new measures to address the negative impact of foreign subsidies and state-owned companies, according to documents made available on Wednesday (13 March), as the EU aims for a more assertive tone towards China.
Dutch increase Air France-KLM stake to counter French influence
The Netherlands announced on Tuesday (26 February) the surprise purchase of a stake in Air France-KLM, saying it needed to protect Dutch interests after a series of rows about the alliance's management.
Barcelona and Madrid clubs team up to defeat Commission over tax regimes
Spanish football teams Real Madrid, Barcelona, Osasuna and Athletic Club Bilbao will not have to repay tax bills, after EU judges said on Tuesday that their tax regimes were lawful, contrary to the European Commission’s verdict.
Commission accuses Telefónica of breaking merger promise
Spanish telecoms operator Telefonica has failed to help rivals enter the German mobile market, breaking a promise made five years ago in return for the European Commission's approval of its acquisition of E-Plus, the institution said on Friday (22 February) in a landmark case.
France, Germany call for a change of European regulatory rules
Less than two weeks after the European Commission blocked the merger of Siemens and Alstom, France and Germany published a joint industrial manifesto on Tuesday (19 February) calling for the EU merger rules to be changed.
France and Germany prepare plan to create European champions
Following the rejection of the Alstom-Siemens merger, France and Germany are working on a review of the EU’s competition rules to create European champions capable of competing with US and Chinese multinationals.
Tweets of the Week: Brexiteer hell, EU Industry days, and Siemens Alstom merger
Tusk says Brexiteers are in for a world of pain, it’s EU Industry Days again and Margrethe Vestager is not on the train.
Six takeaways from Siemens-Alstom rejection
The European Commission decided on Wednesday (6 February) to block the merger of Siemens and Alstom, meant to create a European champion in the railway sector, due to the negative impact it would have on the European market and consumers.
Juncker prepares the ground for Alstom-Siemens merger rejection
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Tuesday (5 February) that the institution “will never play favourites” as the EU executive reportedly prepares to reject the Alstom-Siemens merger, despite intense political pressure from France and Germany.
Le Maire renews push for EU-wide digital services tax
Renewed plans to roll out an EU-wide digital services tax may be back on the cards and could be agreed by the end of March, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said in an interview published on Sunday (20 January).
Electric bikes still face uphill ride in EU as China tariffs take effect
EU rules are doing a lot to promote the use of electric vehicles but tax reform proposals and motor insurance requirements risk undercutting a growing market for electric bicycles.
Commission investigates if Netherlands benefited Nike with tax bill
The European Commission decided on Thursday (10 January) to open an in-depth investigation to determine whether the Netherlands had breached EU rules by allowing Nike to cut its tax bill through complex financial schemes.
Katainen ‘open’ to consider tweaks to competition policy
European Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen told journalists on Tuesday that he would be “open” to consider changes to update competition law in order to cope with the strong competition of US and China firms, but discarded reforming “entirely” antitrust rules as they worked “well”.
Italy’s Salvini attacks France, Germany over shipbuilding intervention
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini attacked France and Germany on Tuesday (8 January) over their role in a European Union investigation into a planned merger involving Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.
Factcheck: Did EU gas liberalisation rules put Bulgaria’s national security at risk?
Bulgarian minister Temenuzhka Petkova has said her country preferred paying a multi-million euro fine rather than follow a Commission injunction. Such a reform, in her words, would have threatened the country's national security. EURACTIV checked the facts.
19 EU countries call for new antitrust rules to create ‘European champions’
A total of 19 EU governments have proposed updating the EU’s antitrust rules in order to facilitate the emergence of European industrial giants able to face “fierce competition” from the US and China.
Vestager: We would have preferred to close the Bulgaria gas case without a fine
The Commission imposed on Monday (17 December) a multi-million fine on Bulgaria’s BEH for blocking access to key natural gas infrastructure in the country. Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said the fine could have been avoided, had Sofia decided to follow another negotiation strategy.
Commission to fine Bulgaria over gas market distortions
The European Commission will fine Bulgarian Energy Holding as early as this month for hindering rivals’ access to key gas infrastructure, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday (11 December), based on information from three sources familiar with the dossier.
EU turns eye to ‘fake’ Google shopping rivals
The EU's top competition enforcer said Brussels was taking a closer look at allegations that Google had helped introduce false price comparison sites to answer a historic ruling against the search engine giant.
With eyes on China, EU agrees investment screening rules
The European Union on Tuesday (20 November) provisionally agreed on rules for a far-reaching system to coordinate scrutiny of foreign investments into Europe, notably from China, to end what a negotiator called "European naivety".
EU closes in on system to screen foreign investment
The European Union is poised to settle on Tuesday (20 November) on a far-reaching system to coordinate scrutiny of foreign investments into Europe, notably from China.
France continues fight against ‘gold plating’ of EU laws
French senators have removed around 20 over-transpositions of EU directives, which are considered to harm businesses’ competitiveness. This was part of a “tidying-up” mission which is sometimes at odds with the public interest. EURACTIV France reports.
Spain’s La Liga says ready to turn to EU over City and PSG cases
The Spanish soccer league’s organising body La Liga is ready to turn to the European Union if UEFA does not enforce its Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules against Manchester City and Paris St Germain, a spokesman told Reuters on Tuesday....