The Lawfulness and Acceptability of Enforcement of European Cartel Law

Short Reads - COVID-19 brings certain questions to centre stage regarding State aid. In this short read, Peter Wytinck, Sophie Van Besien and Michèle de Clerck discuss the possibility of State aid in case of significant financial losses as a result of the spread of the corona virus.

Short Reads - Companies can challenge a decision establishing that they committed a competition law violation, even if no fine was imposed on them. The CBb – the highest court for public enforcement of cartel cases – recently confirmed that the absence of a fine does not affect a company’s interest to appeal. Consequently, parent companies held liable for a subsidiary’s cartel infringement can still challenge a cartel decision, irrespective of whether fines were imposed on them separately.

Short Reads - Als de begunstigingstermijn die aan een last onder dwangsom is verbonden voor een overtreder niet haalbaar is, kan het bestuursorgaan de last opheffen, opschorten of verminderen. De huidige crisissituatie in Nederland biedt bestuursorganen ruimte om de looptijd van handhavingsbesluiten op te schorten. In dit bericht zetten wij de mogelijkheden daartoe uiteen en schetsen wij de randvoorwaarden waaraan zo’n opschorting moet voldoen.

Short Reads - Companies can expect swifter merger clearance and simpler filing rules in Belgium. The Belgian Competition Authority has published a communication with additional rules concerning the simplified procedure for certain types of concentrations. As a result, a new category of concentrations will be eligible for a simplified merger filing, leading to swifter approval and lower costs. It will also allow the BCA to focus its resources on more problematic and complex files.