Competition
Greek government accused of meddling in competition authority
The Greek opposition has accused New Democracy’s conservative government of attempting to control the country’s independent competition commission. The newly elected Greek government is due to pass a law on Monday (5 August) providing for the dismissal of members and...
Commission fines Qualcomm €242 million over predatory pricing
EU antitrust authority fined €242 million Qualcomm due to the application of predatory prices, resulting in a breach of competition law, Commissioner Margrethe Vestager announced on Thursday (18 July).
Commission opens investigation into Amazon’s handling of data
The European Commission decided on Wednesday (17 July) to launch an antitrust investigation into US online retailer Amazon over its use of merchants' data, in a case that could set a precedent.
Airbnb bows to EU demands on room fees
Airbnb has bowed to EU pressure and will avoid potentially multi-million euro fines after making changes to the way it advertises the fees for its popular room-booking service.
Trump orders French digital tax probe, amid talk of retaliatory tariffs
US President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into France's digital tax plans, which may result in retaliatory tariffs or trade restrictions, should the outcome of the probe identify unfair or discriminatory practices.
Vestager will stay in Brussels, even without EU Commission presidency
Danish EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager will stay in Brussels for a second term, the Scandinavian nation’s new prime minister announced yesterday (26 June), even if she fails in her bid to become the next President of the European Commission.
Trump takes aim at Vestager: ‘She hates the US’
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (26 June) suggested the European Union was out of line in "suing" US technology companies like Facebook and Alphabet Inc's Google, saying legal action against those firms should be the purview of the United States.
Europe looks for its ‘formula’ to create industrial champions
As Europe prepares for a comprehensive update of its competition, industrial and trade policies, experts and private sector representatives have warned against state interventionism proposed by France and Germany.
French economy ministry wants to overhaul EU competition policies
The French Ministry of Economy wants to change competition practices and trade policy in Europe. Its proposals also aim to tackle new digital conglomerates. EURACTIV France reports.
Renault to study Fiat-Chrysler merger offer ‘with interest’
French carmaker Renault revealed on Monday (27 May) that it will “study with interest” a merger proposal tabled by Fiat-Chrysler that, if approved, would create one of the largest automobile companies in the world.
Champions grow through competition
Instead of letting governments picking ‘champions’, the EU should strengthen the single market, invest more in innovation and “assertively” pursue fair and equal trade policies, argue Dutch ministers Eric Wiebes, Sigrid Kaag and Mona Keijzer.
Commission fines AB InBev for protecting higher Jupiler beer prices in Belgium
The European Commission fined AB InBev, the world's largest brewer, €200.4 million for restricting cross-border sales of Jupiler to protect higher prices of its top-selling beer in Belgium.
Vestager calls for more access to data for smaller platforms
Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager made a suggestion at the re:publica conference in Berlin: "Access to data has to be redesigned so that newcomers can compete with big tech giants". In a discussion with EURACTIV, she also drew parallels with a recent complaint by Spotify and similar lawsuits. EURACTIV Germany reports.OpinionPromoted content
Vote for 5G: securing the legacy of Robert Schuman
As in 1950, Europe today is again facing the choice of being bold and forward-looking on its future, writes Abraham Liu, Huawei’s Chief Representative to the EU institutions.
‘Belt and Road’: Linking up Europe and Asia
Six years after it launched its 'Belt and Road' initiative, China promises to improve the transparency and sustainability of its massive transport infrastructure programme as a way to dispel European concerns.
Vestager campaigns on hostile French territory
Danish Commissioner Vestager, centrist figurehead and part of French Macronists' future family in the European Parliament, does not have support from the French government for fear she will stand in the way of French candidate Michel Barnier. EURACTIV France reports.
Top German carmakers charged with blocking clean emissions technology
BMW and Volkswagen face possible hefty fines after EU antitrust regulators on Friday (5 April) charged the German carmakers and whistleblower Daimler with colluding to block the rollout of clean emissions technology.
Vestager woos Altmaier with industry pitch
European Commission candidate Margrethe Vestager found a lot of common ground with German economy minister Peter Altmaier on Monday (1 April), as the Dane’s campaign appeared to gain momentum.
EU tells China to rebalance relations as it’s no longer a developing nation
The leaders of France, Germany and the European Commission called on Tuesday (26 March) for more reciprocity in trade relations with China, in a sign that the EU no longer considers China a developing country and is increasingly concerned about its growing influence.
Nike fined €12.5 million for antitrust, football merchandise restrictions
The European Commission announced on Monday (25 March) that the popular US sportswear group Nike has been fined €12.5 million for unlawfully preventing cross-border sales of football merchandise, which lead to higher prices and a reduced choice for consumers.
Europe needs to think in the long-term
The European Commission's opposition to the Alstom/Siemens merger belongs not in the 21C, but in last century's old economic mantras. The Commission doesn't seem to have fully taken the measure of how much our world has changed, writes Bernard Spitz.
Commerzbank to quell fears of job losses, trade union to call strike 28 March
The management of Germany's Commerzbank has a clear strategy about the planned merger with Deutsche Bank and is "working hard" in order to reach a decision as quickly as possible, CEO Martin Zielke said in an internal e-mail sent to the bank’s employees and seen by EURACTIV.
Commission fines Google €1.49 billion for illegal practices
The European Commission fined Google €1.49 billion on Wednesday (20 March), after concluding that Google had breached EU laws by restricting rival online advertising services to access third-party websites.