About: Margrethe Vestager
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.
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.
Google appeals record EU fine over Android
Google on Tuesday (9 October) appealed the biggest ever anti-trust fine by the EU, which imposed a 4.34 billion euro penalty on the US tech giant for illegally abusing the dominance of its operating system for mobile devices.
Margrethe Vestager’s uncertain future in Brussels
Four years spent fighting against the monopoly of the US digital giants have given Margrethe Vestager political prominence. But due to a lack of support from Copenhagen for a second mandate, the competition Commissioner is expected to leave Brussels after the elections. EURACTIV France reports.
After attacking Google, Vestager now turns to Amazon
The European Commission suspects the e-commerce giant of using the data it collects from third-party vendors on its marketplace to gain a commercial advantage. An article by our partner, La Tribune.
McDonald’s tax deal with Luxembourg ‘not illegal’, Commission says
The European Commission concluded on Wednesday (19 September) that Luxembourg’s tax deal with McDonald’s was not illegal state aid as it did not give the company an unfair advantage, but instead was due to the “mismatch” of US and Luxembourgish tax laws.
‘Circle of five’ carmakers under EU cartel investigation
On the third anniversary of Dieselgate, the European Commission announced on Tuesday (18 September) that its anti-competition team is looking into BMW, Daimler and the VW group for allegedly limiting the roll-out of technology meant to clean up car emissions.
EU regulators to study need for action on common mobile phone charger
EU regulators plan to study whether there is a need for action in the push for a common mobile phone charger following a lack of progress by phone makers towards this goal, EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said.
Commission acts against price fixing in online resales
The European Commission levied fines totalling €111 million against Asus, Philips, Pioneer and Denon & Marantz on Tuesday (24 July) for imposing fixed or minimum resale prices on online retailers.
EU keeps Google on the hook following record fine of €4.34 billion
The European Commission slapped Google on Wednesday (18 July) with a record fine of €4.34 billion for abusing its dominant position and said it would continue to investigate as a “top priority” Google's other businesses for possible additional breaches of market rules. The company said it would appeal.
Vestager: ‘I’d like a Facebook that I pay, with full privacy’
In an exclusive interview, the EU's antitrust chief, Margrethe Vestager, told EURACTIV.com that the US social network Facebook is on her radar screen but not the e-commerce giant Amazon, which is also suspected of abusing its dominant position.
French energy giant Engie hit with €120 million ‘illegal’ state aid ruling
Luxembourg will have to recover about €120 million in unpaid tax from French energy giant Engie, after the European Commission found the Grand Duchy guilty of breaching strict state aid rules.
As expected, Vestager lets Gazprom off the hook
The EU's antitrust regulators have ended their investigation into Gazprom without imposing any fines, the Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager announced on Thursday (24 May). The Russian gas giant welcomed the EU's decision and promised to reform.
Apple, Ireland strike deal on €13bn tax payment
Ireland's government on Tuesday (24 April) said it was signing a deal with Apple for the US tech giant to pay €13 billion in back taxes as ordered by the European Commission.
EU antitrust chief says investigation of Google’s Android, AdSense is advancing
Investigations into how Google may be using its Android smartphone operating system and its AdSense advertising service to thwart rivals are advancing, Europe's antitrust chief said on Wednesday (18 April), amid concern about the lengthy proceedings.
Barnier for President, says Brussels-bubble
Michel Barnier is the top candidate to win the European Commission presidency after next May's European elections, as a reward for delivering Brexit. At least, that is what the Brussels-bubble thinks, according to a survey published on Thursday (12 April).
EU now better prepared to tackle tax evasion
Two years after the Panama Papers scandal revealed the scope of tax haven activities, the EU has adopted new legislation and is now better prepared to tackle tax evasion and fraud. EURACTIV’s partner Euroefe reports.
Trump sharpens trade row, threatening to tax German cars
US President Donald Trump has singled out Europe in a billowing trade row, threatening to tax German cars if the European Union doesn't lower barriers to US products.
Italy fumes against company relocations in bitter election campaign
European Union rules are helping less wealthy nations swipe jobs from their bigger partners, Italy's industry ministry said yesterday (20 February), as plans by a multinational to shift production to Slovakia took centre stage in the national election campaign.