On Tuesday, 23 November, the European Commission announced that it had carried out unannounced inspections on the premises of a company that is active in the defence sector. The country in which the inspection was conducted is not known at this stage.
The European Commission is concerned that the inspected company may have violated EU antitrust rules, which prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices pursuant to Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
In a press release, the European Commission explained that the Commission officials were accompanied by a counterpart from the relevant national competition authority.
Unannounced inspections constitute a preliminary step in an investigation into suspected anticompetitive practices. The fact that the European Commission performs such inspections does not mean that the company is guilty of anticompetitive behaviour, nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself. The European Commission respects the rights of defence, in particular the right of companies to be heard in antitrust proceedings.
There is no legal deadline to complete proceedings related to anticompetitive conduct. Their duration depends on a certain number of factors, including the complexity of the case, the degree to which the companies concerned cooperate with the European Commission, and the exercise of the rights of defence. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)