On December 12, 2025, the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”) High-Level Group (“HLG”)[1] endorsed a joint paper on the regulatory interplay on AI-related issues.[2] This paper assesses how to best implement the different legal frameworks that govern AI systems. It underlines the importance of achieving a coherent and consistent implementation of these frameworks and of the cooperation between competent authorities to achieve it.
As part of our response to the European Commission’s consultation on possible reforms to its merger control guidelines,[1] we provided our views on Topic Paper E – Digitalization.
On December 5, 2024, the Court of Justice delivered a preliminary ruling in a case involving KIA Auto and its parent company Tallinna Kaubamaja Grupp on the required standard of proof to demonstrate restrictions by effect under Article 101(1) TFEU.[1]
On November 28, 2024, the Commission published the results of an extensive ex-post study examining its past enforcement of merger control rules in the pharmaceutical sector (the “Study”).[1]
On October 18, 2023, the French Cour de cassation upheld the Paris Court of Appeals’ ruling finding that the French Competition Authority (“FCA”) had rightly calculated the amount of the fine imposed on L’Oréal in 2014 for its alleged involvement in a cartel in the personal care products industry.[1] The French Cour de cassation confirmed that the sales of a subsidiary that did not itself participate in the infringement can be included in the calculation of the fine if these sales have been affected by the infringement sanctioned.
On July 27, 2023, the General Rapporteur of the French Competition Authority (“FCA”) confirmed the notification to Apple of a statement of objections (“SO”) concerning potential anticompetitive practices in the sector for the distribution of mobile applications, likely to have consequences on several related markets for advertising and consumer services.[1]
On June 9, 2023, following an in-depth investigation, the Commission approved Vivendi’s acquisition of Lagardère (the “Transaction”), subject to divestment conditions.[1]
On June 8, 2023, Advocate General Kokott delivered her opinion on the Commission’s appeal of the General Court’s judgment annulling the Commission’s decision finding that Luxembourg had granted unauthorized State aid to Amazon in the form of a tax advantage. [1] Advocate General Kokott’s opinion endorsed the recent Court of Justice’s findings in Fiat,[2] which confirmed that there is no EU-wide arm’s length principle that the Commission can use as a standard of review for Member States’ tax decisions under EU State aid rules. This opinion signals that the Fiat judgement will likely be the guide for ongoing and future tax ruling cases and investigations.
