Competition law Blog

Official Blog of the European Competition and Regulatory Law Review (CoRe)

On a weekly basis Phedon Nicolaides posts critical analysis pieces on the latest State aid judgments and decisions on his blog State Aid Uncovered. Each article presents the main points of a court ruling or Commission‘s decision, places them in the context of similar case law or practice, assesses the underlying reasoning, and identifies any inconsistencies or contradictions.
Occasional guest blog posts by other State aid experts complement the State aid knowledge hub.

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Features ×

29. January 2019  |   Features by Anja Naumann

The Siemens-Alstom merger-thriller – indicator of a new era for European champions?
Competition Blogs - alcom
The proposed Siemens-Alstom merger (Case M.8677) has kept many parties on their toes since it was notified in June 2018, from the parties themselves to the EU Commission and even to national governments. With the recent remedies offered by the parties to secure clearance of the merger allegedly unofficially rejected today, there is little hope left the merger will go through now. […]
read more
No Comments
18. January 2019  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Abuse of dominance through data overcharges and EU competition law enforcement
Competition Blogs - markus spiske iar afB0QQw unsplash
The past year the EU commission and numerous competition authorities have addressed the matter of applying competition law to online platforms. The discussions concerning Facebook and Amazon have even touched upon the difficult relation between data and competition law. Despite the many debates concerning the application of competition law in digital markets, little attestation was given to the calculation of fines and damages […]
read more
No Comments
9. January 2019  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

It’s raining Amazon probes: the Bundeskartellamt joins the Commission in investigating the tech giant’s marketplace practices
Competition Blogs - amazon 3
The investigation On 29 November 2018, the German competition authority (Bundeskartellamt) announced an investigation into Amazon’s business terms and practices on its German marketplace. The Bundeskartellamt’s president commented: Amazon is the largest online retailer and operates by far the largest online marketplace in Germany. Many retailers and manufacturers depend on the reach of Amazon’s marketplace for their online sales. Amazon functions as […]
read more
No Comments
11. December 2018  |   Features by Rita Paukste

Claims for compensation for damages caused by anticompetitive conduct: jurisdiction questions
Competition Blogs - plane
Recently the Court of Justice of the European Union (the CJEU or the Court) issued the preliminary ruling on application of Brussels I Regulation in competition damages actions. The ruling provides guidance on the application and interpretation of special jurisdiction clauses, with a focus on Art 5(3) of the Brussels I Regulation. One of the main aspects of the ruling is the […]
read more
No Comments
29. November 2018  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Apple’s App Store commission fee and (anti-competitive) governance: when a platform’s zero-pricing strategy becomes expensive
Competition Blogs - app store
These days Apple is at the Supreme Court trying to defend its pricing scheme for the App Store, which is currently under fire for being potentially abusive with respect consumers that end up paying perhaps quite a bit more for their apps than they should. Although it is uncertain whether the claimants will be allowed to proceed with the claim, […]
read more
No Comments
20. November 2018  |   Features by Anja Naumann

The Karstadt – Kaufhof merger decided
Competition Blogs - freestocks org 3Q3tsJ01nc unsplash
The Bundeskartellamt started investigations into the merger between big retail store chains Karstadt and Kaufhof just in October and announced the investigations were expected to be complicated and long. Given the parties’ arguments in favour of the merger as counter-measure to pressures from online retail, we suspected here that this merger might turn out the perfect opportunity for the authority to position […]
read more
No Comments
13. November 2018  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

Challenges to Antitrust in a Changing Economy [conference report]
Competition Blogs - Challenges to Antitrust in a Changing Economy 768x384 1
On November 9th, CPI and CCIA organized a conference on the topic of ‘Challenges to Antitrust in a Changing Economy’ at Harvard Law School. In the style of our previous conference recap on this blog, this post covers some of the salient issues discussed during the conference for those who could not make it (or want to relive it). Panel 1: Measuring Concentration Bruce […]
read more
No Comments
18. October 2018  |   Features by Michiel Verhulst

The BritNed v ABB Case: private enforcement pur sang
Competition Blogs - jonny caspari d2HWQg82RUo unsplash
Private enforcement of competition law, particularly with regard to cartel damages claims, has been a highly debated topic since the seminal ECJ decision Courage v Crehan in 2001 (e.g. here and here). Together with the Netherlands and Germany, the UK is traditionally put forward as one of the main fora to introduce a damages action based on a competition law infringement. However, it was only […]
read more
No Comments
10. October 2018  |   Features by Anja Naumann

The Karstadt – Kaufhof merger
Competition Blogs - victor xok gFjGZ2qRZOo unsplash
The two big department store chains’ plans to merge have gone through quite a bit of up-and-down over the summer. The potential merger had been criticised for several reasons, such as job losses or pay cuts for employees. While it first seemed that the merger would fall through, mainly because of financial issues the Kaufhof owner, Hudson’s Bay Company, experienced, the banks and companies gave […]
read more
No Comments
28. September 2018  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

The Commission’s Amazon probe: overcoming the antitrust paradox
Competition Blogs - P037742 506967 640x400 1
In a press conference on September 19th, EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager announced a preliminary investigation into Amazon. At the heart of the potentially abusive conduct is Amazon’s ‘dual role’. One the one hand, Amazon offers a marketplace for third-party sellers to offer their products to consumers. On the other hand, Amazon offers its own products through its marketplace. The Commission’s […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »
Anja Naumann

Blog Editor

LL.M., PhD, currently legal trainee at the Higher Regional Court of Berlin.

>> Anja’s CoRe Blog posts >>

Daniel Mandrescu
Blog editor Assistant Professor EU competition law, Europa Institute, Leiden University >> Daniel's CoRe blog posts >>
Friso Bostoen

Blog Editor

Assistant Professor of Competition Law and Digital Regulation, Tilburg University

Friso Bostoen is an assistant professor of competition law and digital regulation at Tilburg University. Previously, he was a Max Weber Fellow at the European University Institute. He holds degrees from KU Leuven (PhD, LLM) and Harvard University (LLM). Friso’s research focuses on antitrust enforcement in digital markets. His work has resulted in numerous international publications, presentations, and awards (including the AdC Competition Policy Award 2019 and the Concurrences PhD Award 2022). In addition, Friso edits the CoRe Blog and hosts the Monopoly Attack podcast.

>> Friso’s CoRe Blog posts >>

Nelly Stratieva

Head of Editorial Department and Data Protection Officer

Responsible for EStAL (European State Aid Law Quarterly), EPPPL (European Public Private Partnership Law Review) and CoRe (European Competition and Regulatory Law Review). Overseeing Lexxion Publisher’s privacy and data protection compliance.

Parsa Tonkaboni
Picture Rita Paukste
Rita Paukste

Former Blog Editor

Senior Associate, Motieka & Audzevicius PLP, Vilnius

>> Rita’s CoRe Blog posts >>

Features ×

29. January 2019  |   Features by Anja Naumann

The Siemens-Alstom merger-thriller – indicator of a new era for European champions?
Competition Blogs - alcom
The proposed Siemens-Alstom merger (Case M.8677) has kept many parties on their toes since it was notified in June 2018, from the parties themselves to the EU Commission and even to national governments. With the recent remedies offered by the parties to secure clearance of the merger allegedly unofficially rejected today, there is little hope left the merger will go through now. […]
read more
No Comments
18. January 2019  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Abuse of dominance through data overcharges and EU competition law enforcement
Competition Blogs - markus spiske iar afB0QQw unsplash
The past year the EU commission and numerous competition authorities have addressed the matter of applying competition law to online platforms. The discussions concerning Facebook and Amazon have even touched upon the difficult relation between data and competition law. Despite the many debates concerning the application of competition law in digital markets, little attestation was given to the calculation of fines and damages […]
read more
No Comments
9. January 2019  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

It’s raining Amazon probes: the Bundeskartellamt joins the Commission in investigating the tech giant’s marketplace practices
Competition Blogs - amazon 3
The investigation On 29 November 2018, the German competition authority (Bundeskartellamt) announced an investigation into Amazon’s business terms and practices on its German marketplace. The Bundeskartellamt’s president commented: Amazon is the largest online retailer and operates by far the largest online marketplace in Germany. Many retailers and manufacturers depend on the reach of Amazon’s marketplace for their online sales. Amazon functions as […]
read more
No Comments
11. December 2018  |   Features by Rita Paukste

Claims for compensation for damages caused by anticompetitive conduct: jurisdiction questions
Competition Blogs - plane
Recently the Court of Justice of the European Union (the CJEU or the Court) issued the preliminary ruling on application of Brussels I Regulation in competition damages actions. The ruling provides guidance on the application and interpretation of special jurisdiction clauses, with a focus on Art 5(3) of the Brussels I Regulation. One of the main aspects of the ruling is the […]
read more
No Comments
29. November 2018  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Apple’s App Store commission fee and (anti-competitive) governance: when a platform’s zero-pricing strategy becomes expensive
Competition Blogs - app store
These days Apple is at the Supreme Court trying to defend its pricing scheme for the App Store, which is currently under fire for being potentially abusive with respect consumers that end up paying perhaps quite a bit more for their apps than they should. Although it is uncertain whether the claimants will be allowed to proceed with the claim, […]
read more
No Comments
20. November 2018  |   Features by Anja Naumann

The Karstadt – Kaufhof merger decided
Competition Blogs - freestocks org 3Q3tsJ01nc unsplash
The Bundeskartellamt started investigations into the merger between big retail store chains Karstadt and Kaufhof just in October and announced the investigations were expected to be complicated and long. Given the parties’ arguments in favour of the merger as counter-measure to pressures from online retail, we suspected here that this merger might turn out the perfect opportunity for the authority to position […]
read more
No Comments
13. November 2018  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

Challenges to Antitrust in a Changing Economy [conference report]
Competition Blogs - Challenges to Antitrust in a Changing Economy 768x384 1
On November 9th, CPI and CCIA organized a conference on the topic of ‘Challenges to Antitrust in a Changing Economy’ at Harvard Law School. In the style of our previous conference recap on this blog, this post covers some of the salient issues discussed during the conference for those who could not make it (or want to relive it). Panel 1: Measuring Concentration Bruce […]
read more
No Comments
18. October 2018  |   Features by Michiel Verhulst

The BritNed v ABB Case: private enforcement pur sang
Competition Blogs - jonny caspari d2HWQg82RUo unsplash
Private enforcement of competition law, particularly with regard to cartel damages claims, has been a highly debated topic since the seminal ECJ decision Courage v Crehan in 2001 (e.g. here and here). Together with the Netherlands and Germany, the UK is traditionally put forward as one of the main fora to introduce a damages action based on a competition law infringement. However, it was only […]
read more
No Comments
10. October 2018  |   Features by Anja Naumann

The Karstadt – Kaufhof merger
Competition Blogs - victor xok gFjGZ2qRZOo unsplash
The two big department store chains’ plans to merge have gone through quite a bit of up-and-down over the summer. The potential merger had been criticised for several reasons, such as job losses or pay cuts for employees. While it first seemed that the merger would fall through, mainly because of financial issues the Kaufhof owner, Hudson’s Bay Company, experienced, the banks and companies gave […]
read more
No Comments
28. September 2018  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

The Commission’s Amazon probe: overcoming the antitrust paradox
Competition Blogs - P037742 506967 640x400 1
In a press conference on September 19th, EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager announced a preliminary investigation into Amazon. At the heart of the potentially abusive conduct is Amazon’s ‘dual role’. One the one hand, Amazon offers a marketplace for third-party sellers to offer their products to consumers. On the other hand, Amazon offers its own products through its marketplace. The Commission’s […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

Features ×

29. January 2019  |   Features by Anja Naumann

The Siemens-Alstom merger-thriller – indicator of a new era for European champions?
Competition Blogs - alcom
The proposed Siemens-Alstom merger (Case M.8677) has kept many parties on their toes since it was notified in June 2018, from the parties themselves to the EU Commission and even to national governments. With the recent remedies offered by the parties to secure clearance of the merger allegedly unofficially rejected today, there is little hope left the merger will go through now. […]
read more
No Comments
18. January 2019  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Abuse of dominance through data overcharges and EU competition law enforcement
Competition Blogs - markus spiske iar afB0QQw unsplash
The past year the EU commission and numerous competition authorities have addressed the matter of applying competition law to online platforms. The discussions concerning Facebook and Amazon have even touched upon the difficult relation between data and competition law. Despite the many debates concerning the application of competition law in digital markets, little attestation was given to the calculation of fines and damages […]
read more
No Comments
9. January 2019  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

It’s raining Amazon probes: the Bundeskartellamt joins the Commission in investigating the tech giant’s marketplace practices
Competition Blogs - amazon 3
The investigation On 29 November 2018, the German competition authority (Bundeskartellamt) announced an investigation into Amazon’s business terms and practices on its German marketplace. The Bundeskartellamt’s president commented: Amazon is the largest online retailer and operates by far the largest online marketplace in Germany. Many retailers and manufacturers depend on the reach of Amazon’s marketplace for their online sales. Amazon functions as […]
read more
No Comments
11. December 2018  |   Features by Rita Paukste

Claims for compensation for damages caused by anticompetitive conduct: jurisdiction questions
Competition Blogs - plane
Recently the Court of Justice of the European Union (the CJEU or the Court) issued the preliminary ruling on application of Brussels I Regulation in competition damages actions. The ruling provides guidance on the application and interpretation of special jurisdiction clauses, with a focus on Art 5(3) of the Brussels I Regulation. One of the main aspects of the ruling is the […]
read more
No Comments
29. November 2018  |   Features by Daniel Mandrescu

Apple’s App Store commission fee and (anti-competitive) governance: when a platform’s zero-pricing strategy becomes expensive
Competition Blogs - app store
These days Apple is at the Supreme Court trying to defend its pricing scheme for the App Store, which is currently under fire for being potentially abusive with respect consumers that end up paying perhaps quite a bit more for their apps than they should. Although it is uncertain whether the claimants will be allowed to proceed with the claim, […]
read more
No Comments
20. November 2018  |   Features by Anja Naumann

The Karstadt – Kaufhof merger decided
Competition Blogs - freestocks org 3Q3tsJ01nc unsplash
The Bundeskartellamt started investigations into the merger between big retail store chains Karstadt and Kaufhof just in October and announced the investigations were expected to be complicated and long. Given the parties’ arguments in favour of the merger as counter-measure to pressures from online retail, we suspected here that this merger might turn out the perfect opportunity for the authority to position […]
read more
No Comments
13. November 2018  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

Challenges to Antitrust in a Changing Economy [conference report]
Competition Blogs - Challenges to Antitrust in a Changing Economy 768x384 1
On November 9th, CPI and CCIA organized a conference on the topic of ‘Challenges to Antitrust in a Changing Economy’ at Harvard Law School. In the style of our previous conference recap on this blog, this post covers some of the salient issues discussed during the conference for those who could not make it (or want to relive it). Panel 1: Measuring Concentration Bruce […]
read more
No Comments
18. October 2018  |   Features by Michiel Verhulst

The BritNed v ABB Case: private enforcement pur sang
Competition Blogs - jonny caspari d2HWQg82RUo unsplash
Private enforcement of competition law, particularly with regard to cartel damages claims, has been a highly debated topic since the seminal ECJ decision Courage v Crehan in 2001 (e.g. here and here). Together with the Netherlands and Germany, the UK is traditionally put forward as one of the main fora to introduce a damages action based on a competition law infringement. However, it was only […]
read more
No Comments
10. October 2018  |   Features by Anja Naumann

The Karstadt – Kaufhof merger
Competition Blogs - victor xok gFjGZ2qRZOo unsplash
The two big department store chains’ plans to merge have gone through quite a bit of up-and-down over the summer. The potential merger had been criticised for several reasons, such as job losses or pay cuts for employees. While it first seemed that the merger would fall through, mainly because of financial issues the Kaufhof owner, Hudson’s Bay Company, experienced, the banks and companies gave […]
read more
No Comments
28. September 2018  |   Features by Friso Bostoen

The Commission’s Amazon probe: overcoming the antitrust paradox
Competition Blogs - P037742 506967 640x400 1
In a press conference on September 19th, EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager announced a preliminary investigation into Amazon. At the heart of the potentially abusive conduct is Amazon’s ‘dual role’. One the one hand, Amazon offers a marketplace for third-party sellers to offer their products to consumers. On the other hand, Amazon offers its own products through its marketplace. The Commission’s […]
read more
No Comments
« Previous PageNext Page »

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