On Friday 18 July, the European Commission accused the French group Vivendi of breaching EU competition rules by acquiring control of the Lagardère group too early. Vivendi immediately disputed these “allegations”.
The Commission found that Vincent Bolloré’s group exercised “decisive” editorial “influence” over several Lagardère media outlets before the takeover was notified to the Commission on 24 October 2022 (see EUROPE 13230/23 on the investigation).
According to the investigation, Vivendi closely monitored and regularly intervened in strategic decisions concerning the editorial line and the covers and articles of the Lagardère group’s magazines and newspapers, Paris Match and the Journal du dimanche, as well as the radio station Europe 1.
Vivendi is also accused of intervening in decisions relating to the dismissal and recruitment of journalists for these two publications and for Europe 1.
A Statement of Objections has therefore been sent to the French group, the first step in a procedure under which the Commission could impose a fine on Vivendi of up to 10% of its total turnover. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)