On Wednesday 6 March, the European Commission published its report on its competition policy activities in 2023. The European Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager, pointed out that in 2023, due to the continuing consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and Russian military aggression against Ukraine, the Commission had to divide its work between pursuing crisis measures and achieving its longer-term political objectives.
In terms of State aid control, the European Commission reports a total of over 600 decisions, including 200 decisions taken under the various temporary crisis frameworks.
In the area of cartels and abuses of dominant positions, the European Commissioner points out that the Commission has taken five decisions, issued six statements of objections and carried out seven series of unannounced inspections. Commissioner Vestager highlights a number of cases, such as the fine imposed on Intel for abuse of a dominant position on the market for central processing units for computers (see EUROPE 13256/13) or the first decision on a cartel in the defence sector (see EUROPE 13255/21).
With regard to merger control, Margrethe Vestager notes the increase in the Commission’s activities in view of the rise in the number of mergers and acquisitions triggered by the crises. The Commission adopted 333 merger decisions, including 271 under a simplified procedure. The Commissioner also points out that the Commission intervened in 11 proposed acquisitions, prohibited Booking’s acquisition of eTraveli (see EUROPE 13257/15) and required Illumina to unwind its acquisition of GRAIL (see EUROPE 13270/22).
The Commission is also reviewing the authorisation of European projects of common interest (see EUROPE 13307/16).
In addition, Ms Vestager points out that in 2023 the Commission has also started to apply new tools in the Single market, such as the Digital Markets Act (or DMA) and the Regulation on foreign subsidies (see EUROPE 13072/26).
Further information: https://aeur.eu/f/b60 (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)