Tag: Margrethe Vestager

Antitrust: European Commission fines Google €1.49 billion for abusive practices in online advertising

Posted on by Marben

The European Commission has fined Google €1.49 billion for breaching EU antitrust rules. Google has abused its market dominance by imposing a number of restrictive clauses in contracts with third-party websites which prevented Google's rivals from placing their search adverts on these websites. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: "Today the Commission has … Continue reading Antitrust: European Commission fines Google €1.49 billion for abusive practices in online advertising →

Antitrust: European Commission fines car safety equipment suppliers € 368 million in cartel settlement

Posted on by Marben

The European Commission has fined Autoliv and TRW a total of € 368 277 000 for breaching EU antitrust rules. Takata was not fined as it revealed the cartels to the Commission. The companies took part in two cartels for the supply of car seatbelts, airbags and steering wheels to European car producers. All three … Continue reading Antitrust: European Commission fines car safety equipment suppliers € 368 million in cartel settlement →

European Commission report finds active competition enforcement contributes to affordable and innovative medicines

Posted on by Marben

The European Commission has published a report showing that active competition law enforcement, at EU and national level, in the pharmaceutical sector contributes to delivering more affordable medicines and more choice to patients and healthcare systems, and promotes further innovation. Margrethe Vestager, Commissioner in charge of competition policy, said “Giving European patients and healthcare systems access … Continue reading European Commission report finds active competition enforcement contributes to affordable and innovative medicines →

European Commission fines Mastercard €570 million for obstructing merchants’ access to cross-border card payment services

Posted on by Marben

The European Commission has fined the card scheme Mastercard €570 566 000 for limiting the possibility for merchants to benefit from better conditions offered by banks established elsewhere in the Single Market, in breach of EU antitrust rules. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “European consumers use payment cards every day, when they buy … Continue reading European Commission fines Mastercard €570 million for obstructing merchants’ access to cross-border card payment services →

Antitrust: European Commission fines Guess €40 million for anti-competitive agreements to block cross-border sales

Posted on by Marben

The European Commission today fined the clothing company Guess €39 821 000 for restricting retailers from online advertising and selling cross-border to consumers in other Member States ("geo-blocking"), in breach of EU competition rules. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: "Guess' distribution agreements tried to prevent EU consumers from shopping in other Member States … Continue reading Antitrust: European Commission fines Guess €40 million for anti-competitive agreements to block cross-border sales →

Antitrust: Commission invites comments on Transgaz commitments concerning natural gas exports from Romania

Posted on by Marben

The European Commission invites comments on commitments submitted by Transgaz to address competition concerns regarding the free flow of natural gas from Romania. The commitments would aim to enable natural gas exports from Romania to other Member States, in particular Hungary and Bulgaria. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: "Natural gas consumers across … Continue reading Antitrust: Commission invites comments on Transgaz commitments concerning natural gas exports from Romania →

Antitrust: Commission fines four consumer electronics manufacturers for fixing online resale prices

Posted on by Marben

The European Commission today fined, in four separate decisions, consumer electronics manufacturers Asus, Denon & Marantz, Philips and Pioneer for imposing fixed or minimum resale prices on their online retailers in breach of EU competition rules. The fines totalling over €111 million were in all four cases reduced due to the companies' cooperation with the … Continue reading Antitrust: Commission fines four consumer electronics manufacturers for fixing online resale prices →