D'Kart | Antitrust Blog

Sylvie Goulard: A Commissioner to Watch

13. September 2019 Gast Comments 1 comment

The competition community has seen with some joy the reappointment of Margrethe Vestager to the competition portfolio in the new EU Commission. While Vestager also secured the post as Executive Vice President for digital issues, there is another stronghold for economic policy in the Commission: Sylvie Goulard, nominated as Commissioner for Internal Market. We spoke with David Bosco, competition law professor at the University of Aix-Marseille, to learn more about a woman who is rumoured to become the most influential…

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Vestager!

10. September 2019 Rupprecht Podszun Comments 2 comments

Breaking News: Margrethe Vestager remains in charge of competition in the new European Commission. While overseeing the digital agenda of the Commission as a Vice President, she will also head DG COMP as the Commissioner. Enforcing competition rules, dealing with state aid and coordinating the digital promises of Ursula von der Leyen’s college of Commissioners seems a lot for one person – but, hey, she took on Google, Apple and the like without fear. Mme. Vestager will probably become the…

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Competition 4.0

9. September 2019 Gast Comments 1 comment

In Berlin, the German Commission for a Digital Competition Law (“Kommission Wettbewerbsrecht 4.0”) handed over its proposals for the reform of the EU competition framework to German Economics Minister Peter Altmaier. The task of the expert group was to recommend changes of EU law. Lucas Gasser was at the press conference for D’Kart and gives a first overview of the German contribution to the Eurovision Competition Contest. Almost a year has passed since Germany’s Minister Peter Altmaier appointed an expert…

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SSNIPpets (33): WWWWWWW

6. September 2019 Rupprecht Podszun Comments 3 comments

For the 100th time D’Kart sends out a newsletter. What an anniversary! We celebrate it by announcing a winner. And of course Rupprecht Podszun is in party mood about everything else that has been happening this week. Here are his SSNIPpets, small but significant news, information and pleasantries – our pet project! Defining weeks As early as next week, Ursula von der Leyen apparently wants to announce who is to take over which portfolio in the European Commission. But according…

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Facebook vs. Bundeskartellamt

30. August 2019 Rupprecht Podszun Comments 6 comments

The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court has decided the Facebook case in interim proceedings. This did not turn out well for the Bundeskartellamt, and high-flying hopes that digital markets can be regulated with courageous antitrust decisions have thus been dampened. Here are some thoughts by Rupprecht Podszun. Bitter. That was the word that first came to my mind when I learned about the decision of the Oberlandesgericht (OLG) Düsseldorf regarding Facebook. Bitter for the people at the Bundeskartellamt, the Federal Cartel…

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Ministerial approval Miba/Zollern: A green industrial policy for medium-sized companies

20. August 2019 Gast Comments 2 comments

Alea iacta est. Peter Altmaier has decided. Miba and Zollern may merge by ministerial approval. But: only under certain conditions. Maximilian Konrad took a closer look at the decision of the German Federal Minister of Economics published on 19 August 2019. A ministerial approval for medium-sized companies – what was going on again? Looking back you certainly remember (D’Kart reported here and here): The Austrian Miba AG and the Baden-Württemberg-based Zollern GmbH & Co. KG want to merge their business…

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SSNIPpets (32) – Traffic Jam

2. August 2019 Rupprecht Podszun Comments 0 Comment

Many antitrust addicts want to go on holiday or want to get back from holiday and are stuck in traffic jams. Please do not worry, there is still enough stuff to read, and Rupprecht Podszun brings it to you through the emergency vehicle lane. So, give a tablet to your kids in the backseat, let your partner steer the wheel, and enjoy our antitrust law Summer SSNIPpets – small but significant news, information and pleasantries, our pet project! Infrastructure for…

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SSNIPpets (31): Albrecht Leyenheart

19. July 2019 Rupprecht Podszun Comments 3 comments

For the first time, the European Commission has a female President. Even more exciting: her family roots. From an antitrust point of view, however, this is just one of far too many news this week. Summer break seems to be approaching, so much is going on again. Rupprecht Podszun has seen the news, here are his SSNIPpets – small but significant news, information and pleasantries – our pet project! Daddy Cool The European Commission has a new boss. Ursula von…

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SSNIPpets (30): Mayflies

5. July 2019 Rupprecht Podszun Comments 3 comments

Just back from Aix-en-Provence, where the very fundamental eternital questions of antitrust law were discussed, Rupprecht Podszun finds himself again in exciting day-to-day business. Shortly before summer break – as is so often the case at this time of year – everything is running hot. We sort the most important and the most beautiful for you – here are the SSNIPpets, small but significant news, information and pleasantries – our pet project! The three Ministers: Proposals for EU Antitrust Law…

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Conference Debriefing (11): ASCOLA Conference, Aix-en-Provence, June 2019

2. July 2019 Rupprecht Podszun Comments 3 comments

This was the hottest conference you could possibly imagine in antitrust. Literally: 42 degrees Celsius in Aix-en-Provence when ASCOLA met. ASCOLA is the Academic Society for Competition Law – it is the organisation where antitrust researchers from around the world meet once a year to explain to each other what they found out. Rupprecht Podszun was cooked (if not grilled) there, too. Here is his Conference Debriefing! Name of Conference: 14th ASCOLA Conference Location: Université Aix-Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, France Host: ASCOLA,…

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