The European Commission and national consumer protection authorities of 23 Member States, Norway and Iceland (CPC Network), released the results of a screening (“sweep”) of retail websites. This check covered 399 online shops of retail traders selling products ranging from textiles to electronic goods. It also focused on three specific types of manipulative practices that […]
Read More
EU trade with Russia declined strongly
EU trade with Russia has been strongly affected following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the EU imposing import and export restrictions on several products. The effects of these measures have been particularly visible in the latest months. Considering seasonally adjusted values, both exports and imports dropped considerably below the levels prior to Russia’s invasion. Russia’s share in extra-EU imports fell from 6.4% […]
Read More
Digital Markets Act: rules for digital gatekeepers to ensure open markets enter into force
The EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) entered into force on 1 November. The new Regulation will put an end to unfair practices by companies that act as gatekeepers in the online platform economy. It was proposed by the Commission in December 2020 and agreed by the European Parliament and the Council in record-time, in March […]
Read More
Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market, visits Madrid
The visit to Madrid by the Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, which began the previous day with a meeting with the Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, concluded on January 10, when the Commissioner and the Minister discussed about the European space policy and other strategic issues. Afterwards, in a working lunch […]
Read More
EU wins in WTO appeal about Colombian anti-dumping duties on frozen fries
Arbitrators have in substance ruled in favour of the EU in the first WTO appeal dealt with under the ‘Multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement’, known as the ‘MPIA’. The final and binding award confirms that the anti-dumping duties imposed by Colombia on frozen fries from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands breach World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and […]
Read More
Antitrust: Commission accepts commitments by Amazon
The European Commission has made commitments offered by Amazon legally binding under EU antitrust rules. Amazon’s commitments address the Commission’s competition concerns over Amazon’s use of non-public marketplace seller data and over a possible bias in granting to sellers access to its Buy Box and its Prime programme. The Commission’s concerns In July 2019, the […]
Read More
EU-US Trade and Technology Council addresses common challenges and responds to global crises
The EU and the US held the third Ministerial Meeting of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in College Park, Maryland. The TTC is a key forum to deepen transatlantic cooperation to facilitate trade and develop global standards on technology and security. Geostrategic challenges, including Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, have reinforced the […]
Read More
Commission authorizes acquisition of Bluevia’s joint control by Telefonica, Predica and Vauban
Under the European Merger Regulation, the European Commission has authorized the acquisition of joint control of Bluevia Fibra S.L. (“Bluevia”) by Telefónica S.A., both based in Spain, Prévoyance Dialogue du Crédit Agricole S.A. (“Predica”) and Vauban Infrastructure Partners S.C.A. (“Vauban”), both based in France. Bluevia will operate and operate a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network in rural […]
Read More
Parliament wants to clamp down on foreign public subsidies
Parliament is set to approve rules to counteract market-distorting foreign subsidies to companies operating in the EU. Government financing of enterprises has been on the rise worldwide, in particular because of China’s growing role in the global economy. Foreign subsidies can have a distortive effect on competitive markets. Parliament wants the European Commission to have […]
Read More