14.07.2020

The Commission suffers another setback in its fight against illegal state aid

On 15 July 2020, the European General Court (GC) rendered its verdict on the Commission decision of 30 August 2016 requiring obliging Ireland to claim the payment of € 13 billion of back taxes from Apple.…

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09.06.2020

German Federal Cartel Office Supports Cooperation with Competitors for 'Coronavirus Restructuring'

The automotive industry shows that cooperation with competitors in order to deal with the difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic in a coordinated manner is possible in accordance with antitrust…

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07.05.2020

Decision of the German Federal Constitutional Court: Constitutional Complaints against PSPP

The Federal Constitutional Court had to rule on constitutional complaints against the Public Sector Purchase Programme (PSPP). The result can be summarised as follows: In the opinion of the Court, the ECB…

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03.05.2020

25 Years Schengen Area - The Challenges of COVID-19 and the Consequences of the Pandemic for the Freedom of Goods and Services

More than a month ago, Europe celebrated the first 25 years of the abolition of intra-European border controls - and this despite the restrictions on freedom of travel and the free movement of goods that…

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15.04.2020

Strengthening of Investment Controls in Germany and Europe

Over the last two years, investment control rules were strengthened throughout Europe, or for the first time adopted, and a common framework for the assessment of foreign direct investments created by the…

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01.04.2020

State Aid in the Corona Crisis

The measures taken by the EU Member States to support their economies in the wake of the corona pandemic fall under the EU aid regime insofar as the support actions constitute aid within the meaning of…

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29.03.2020

ANTITRUST LAW IN THE CORONA CRISIS (4): MARKET POWER

Antitrust law also applies in times of crisis. Antitrust law imposes a special responsibility on companies with market power. In times of crisis, their market behaviour and commercial practices can quickly…

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25.03.2020

Antitrust Law in the Corona Crisis: German Merger Control Risks

Merger control also applies in times of crisis. The changing economic environment may allow mergers that would have been prohibited in the past. More often, however, the corona crisis will delay merger…

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24.03.2020

Antitrust law in the corona crisis (2): Suppliers / Distributors

Antitrust law also applies in times of crisis. But: Antitrust law allows companies the necessary flexibility to react to the challenges of the corona crisis. One such reaction is reaching bilateral…

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22.03.2020

Antitrust Law in the Corona Crisis (1): Cooperations

Antitrust law also applies in times of crisis. But: Antitrust law allows companies the necessary flexibility to react to the challenges of the corona crisis. One such reaction is cooperating with…

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23.02.2020

Strengthening of Investment Controls in Germany

In November 2019, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) presented its concept for an “Industrial Strategy 2030 - Guidelines for a German and European Industrial Policy”. The…

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26.11.2019

Tech giants – Taming made easy?

"The digital economy is developing at a rapid pace. Tech giants such as Google, Apple, Facebook or Amazon create constant pressure on competition law through their constant innovative development of new,…

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