Siemens/Alstom Archive

How the European Union can compete globally

6. March 2020 D'Kart Comments 1 comment

By Dr Andreas Schwab, MEP European champions and a relaxation of competition law are again being discussed in Brussels. Manfred Weber and Esther de Lange from the EPP group in the European Parliament have sent a letter to Commissioners Margrethe Vestager and Thierry Breton, published by Politico here. D’Kart asked Dr Andreas Schwab for a statement – he is a colleague from the same group as the authors of the letter and a competition lawyer who is well versed in…

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Sylvie Goulard: A Commissioner to Watch

13. September 2019 Gast Comments 3 comments

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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In defence of tried and tested merger control

1. May 2019 D'Kart Comments 1 comment

The proposals to change European merger control, in particular with a view to paving the way for national and European champions, keep irritating the competition law community. This week, the Financial Times published an Open Letter signed by 92 practitioners from law firms and economic consultancies and academics. D’Kart documents this contribution to the debate – with thanks to Vanessa Turner who started the initiative. The recent Franco-German proposals to potentially soften and/or politicize competition enforcement in the EU continue…

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When Peter Altmaier presented his National Industrial Strategy 2030 there was uproar. Philipp Steinberg sets out his thoughts in D’Kart today.

National Industrial Strategy 2030 – Relax, take it easy!

4. April 2019 Gast Comments 5 comments

When Peter Altmaier, Germany’s Minister of Economics, presented his National Industrial Strategy 2030 there was uproar with competition lawyers and economists. Philipp Steinberg, one of the thought leaders in the Ministry, sets out his thoughts in D’Kart today. Dieser Text ist auch auf Deutsch verfügbar. Klicken Sie dazu einfach oben rechts auf die Flagge. Globalisation is a fact that Europe and all countries need to accept. Europe is a global player and has no reason to fear global competition. Competition…

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Die Wettbewerbsökonomen Massimo Motta und Martin Peitz haben einen offenen Brief zu "europäische champions" verfasst, den wir auf D'Kart dokumentieren.

More, not less, competition is needed in Europe

15. February 2019 Gast Comments 6 comments

The prohibition of the merger between Siemens and Alstom triggered a political discussion. Do we need “European champions”? And does antitrust law possibly stand in the way of a reasonable industrial policy? Competition economists Massimo Motta from the University of Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona and Martin Peitz from the University of Mannheim drafted an open letter that we publish on D’Kart today. Their plea for a competition-oriented policy was signed by numerous other renowned competition economists, including our Düsseldorf colleagues Justus Haucap,…

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SSNIPPets (24): Antitrust lawyers, hear the bells ringing!

1. February 2019 Rupprecht Podszun Comments 4 comments

In Germany, we currently discuss speed limits, air quality measuring points and the reform of the the railway incumbent Deutsche Bahn. Mobility is oh-so-important, traffic lights on green. It looks, though, like there will be no getting through for the mega-merger in the railway industry. Yet, our racing reporter Rupprecht Podszun took a free ride ticket through the antitrust world, and here are his small but significant news, information and pleasantries – our pet project (SSNIPpets)! Red alert This week…

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