On May 8, 2025, the European Commission (the “EC”) launched a public consultation on the EU Merger Guidelines (together, the “Guidelines”), which describe the framework applied by the EC to assess the competitive impact of horizontal and non-horizontal mergers (the “Consultation”).[1] The Consultation responds to the Draghi Report’s call for “more forward-looking and agile” EU merger control that takes greater account of innovation and future competition in assessing mergers.[2]
On October 4, 2024, following two annulments,[1] the Court of Justice confirmed the Commission’s second readoption of its decision to fine Italian manufacturers of reinforcing steel bars for a price-fixing cartel. While dismissing all other pleas, the Court of Justice found that the Commission had breached the principle of equal treatment by granting two manufacturers different fine discounts per year of their non-participation in the cartel.[2] To rectify the unequal treatment, the Court of Justice reduced Ferriere Nord’s fine from €2,237,000 to €2,165,000.