18/05/22 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 17 May, the European Commission started carrying out unannounced inspections at the premises of companies active in the fashion sector in several Member States. In parallel, the Commission has sent out formal requests for information to several companies active in the fashion sector. The Commission is concerned that the companies concerned may have violated Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and Article 53 of the European Economic Area Agreement, which prohibit cartels and other restrictive business practices. Unannounced inspections are a preliminary step in the investigation of suspected cartels and abuses of dominance. The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections and sends out formal requests for information does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour; nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation. (LC)