Following a complaint by Eurotunnel operators France Manche SA and The Channel Tunnel Group on June 25, 2021, the French Competition Authority (“FCA”) examined allegations that DFDS and P&O Ferries had entered into an anticompetitive capacity-sharing agreement on the Calais–Dover route.
As part of our response to the European Commission’s consultation on possible reforms to its merger control guidelines,[1] we submitted our observations on Topic Paper G – Public Policy, Security, and Labour Market Considerations.
The French Assemblée Nationale (the “National Assembly”) is currently examining a legislative proposal to increase the French merger control notification thresholds, as part of a broader bill on the simplification of economic life (the “Simplification Bill”). The draft Simplification Bill, already adopted by the French Senate[1] and reviewed by a special commission within the National Assembly, is being discussed in plenary session under the accelerated legislative procedure. [2] If adopted, the new merger control thresholds could be implemented by early 2026 and would significantly decrease the number of transactions reviewed by the French Competition Authority (the “FCA”).
The French Competition Authority (“FCA”) imposed a €150 million fine on Apple for abusing its dominant position between 2021 and 2023 as a distributor of mobile applications on iOS and iPadOS devices through the implementation of “artificially complex” requirements relating to privacy protection.[1]
On March 21, 2025, the French Competition Authority (“FCA”) conditionally cleared the acquisition of 98 former Casino food retail stores by Auchan.[1] The FCA decision is conditional on (i) the divestment of one supermarket, and (ii) sharing the sales area of one hypermarket with two competitors.
On December 4, 2024, the French Competition Authority (the “FCA”) sanctioned two airlines, Air Antilles and Air Caraïbes, and one specialised consultant for having implemented a strategy to increase prices and coordinate offers and conditions in the Caribbean inter-island aviation transport sector (the “Decision”).[1] The FCA imposed total fines of €14.57 million, concluding a five-year old investigation.[2]
On November 28, 2024, the French Competition Authority (“FCA”) conditionally cleared the acquisition of 200 former Casino stores by the Intermarché group.[1] The FCA decision is conditional on the divestment of 11 stores to ensure that consumers have access to alternative offerings when purchasing mass-market products.
On November 19, 2024, the French Competition Authority (“FCA”) submitted a Report (“FCA Report”) to the Ministers for Energy and the Economy, on the national regulated tariffs for electricity (tarifs réglementés de vente d’électricité – “TRVs”).[1] The FCA recommended to take practical measures to prepare the termination of the TRV mechanism, anticipating regulatory changes at the national and European levels in favor of market-based pricing.
On May 3, 2024, the French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control[1] (“DGCCRF”) published its 2023 annual report (the “Report”).[2] The Report highlights the DGCCRF’s importance in cartel and other anti-competitive behavior detection in France, as well as its new roles, including taking part in the enforcement of the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”).[3]
Jérôme Vidal was appointed head of the mergers unit of the French Competition Authority (“FCA”), effective June 17, 2024. Jérôme Vidal succeeds Etienne Chantrel who had held this position since January 2017.