Insights

Washington – December 19, 2024: Global Competition Review recognized Crowell & Moring’s Antitrust & Competition Group in its 2025 “GCR 100” – a comprehensive list of the world’s leading competition practices. This year marks the 25th edition of the rankings and the 18th consecutive year that Crowell’s Antitrust & Competition Group has been recognized.

On February 26, the European Commission presented its Clean Industrial Deal (CID). As a follow-up to the European Green Deal, the CID aims to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry while at the same time accelerating the decarbonization of the economy.

On October 4, 2024, the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) ruled in the Diarra case that the transfer rules of the Fédération Internationale Football Association (FIFA) regarding the termination of player contracts without just cause were incompatible with EU internal market and competition laws. Following this landmark ruling, FIFA published temporary changes to its transfer rules on December 23, 2024. This judgment could have a significant impact on the economic model for football in Europe, and on the balance of power both between clubs, and between clubs and their players.

Just over a year ago, the notification obligations under the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) became applicable. Since then, M&A transactions and bids for government contracts above certain thresholds must be notified to the European Commission. Pending the Commission’s review, the transaction cannot be completed, or the contract cannot be awarded. What lessons can be learned from the application of the FSR to date? Has the FSR proved to be an effective tool in leveling the playing field, or has its main effect been to burden companies with red tape, at the risk of discouraging investment in Europe?

Wij hebben het genoegen u uit te nodigen voor de officiële voorstelling van het boek “Concentratiecontrole in België” van Karel Bourgeois op 8 december 2022.

The European Commission is currently reviewing the Horizontal Block Exemption Regulations and the Horizontal Cooperation Guidelines. The revised regulations and guidelines will enter into force by the end of this year. The drafts reflect the Commission’s updated approach to horizontal cooperation issues such as joint purchasing, joint production, bidding consortia, information exchanges, etc. They also provide new guidance on agreements pursuing sustainability (ESG) goals. This webinar will focus on the key changes that inhouse counsel should be aware of.

On June 1, 2022, the various governments of Belgium reached a cooperation agreement on a screening regime for foreign direct investments (FDI). The new regime aims to protect Belgium’s national security, public order, and strategic interests. To that end, transactions in a wide range of sectors, and regardless of their size, will be subject to mandatory and suspensory notification to a new body, the Interfederal Screening Commission (ISC). The new regime is currently expected to enter into force by mid-2023.

In response to the digital revolution and the increasing impact technology has on business, Competition Authorities on both sides of the Atlantic are stepping up merger control enforcement. They are revising current policies, advocating for more aggressive use of existing rules to their full potential effect, and calling for new laws and regulations where they see the need. What does this mean for companies engaging in transactions in the digital marketplace and other industries? Is it becoming harder to predict if a deal will be subject to merger control? Are some deals more likely to receive enhanced scrutiny than others? And, what are the broader implications for all sectors when Competition Authorities push the boundaries on traditional theories of harm and remedies, and prohibitions become more commonplace?