We are Stibbe EU Law, Competition and Regulation specialists

Short Reads - On 27 June 2017, the European Commission announced its decision to fine Google EUR 2.42 billion for abusing its dominant position by illegally favouring its own comparison shopping service in its search results. The fine follows a seven-year investigation and unsuccessful commitment negotiations and is the largest ever imposed on a single company by the Commission. Failure to remedy the allegedly anti-competitive conduct within 90 days could lead to additional fines of up to 5% of Google's average daily worldwide turnover for each day of non-compliance.

Articles - "Kan een lidstaat een beschermingszone overeenkomsitg de habitatrichtlijn verkleinen, wanneer hij zijn strategie voor het herstel van beschermwaardige habitattypen wijzigt en de desbetreffende zones niet meer nodig heeft?" Deze vraag staat centraal naar aanleiding van een prejudiciële vraag van de Nederlandse Raad van State aan het Hof van Justitie (zaak C-281/16). Advocaat-Generaal Kokott verduidelijkt onder welke voorwaarden een verkleining van een speciale beschermingszone haar inziens mogelijk is.  

Seminar - On Friday 23 June 2017, Laurens Dauwe and Charlotte Conings will speak at a lunch seminar organized by Lexdura.

Short Reads - On 18 May 2017, the EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager stressed the importance for companies involved in mergers of complying with the EU merger rules. By imposing a fine on Facebook for providing misleading information during the WhatsApp takeover and sending a Statement of Objections to Altice for implementing a deal prior to obtaining its approval, the European Commission shows that it will be very attentive to any violations of its procedural rules.

Short Reads - By an Act dated 6 June 2017, Belgium transposed the European Directive regarding actions for damages for infringements of competition law. The new provisions also apply to class actions of consumers. Class actions are extended to infringements of EU competition law.

Short Reads - On 27 March 2017, the European Commission approved a merger between chemical companies Dow and DuPont subject to major remedies, including the divestment of DuPont's global R&D organisation. In this case, the Commission's review extended to the merger's potential impact on innovation "at the overall industry level". 

Short Reads - On 10 May 2017, the European Commission published the final report on its e-commerce sector inquiry. The report identifies several business practices that might restrict competition in online markets. In the past, sector inquiries have been followed by enforcement action by the Commission in the industries concerned.

Short Reads - On 2 May 2017, the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) imposed a total fine of EUR 1,779,000 on five undertakings active in the sector of electrical switchgear for bid-rigging in relation to a tender issued by Infrabel (Belgian railway infrastructure manager).