503 results French supermarket dawn raids down the drain On 9 March 2023, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the European Commission should properly record interviews if they are used to gather information regarding the subject matter of the investigation. Guidelines vs Guidance: exclusionary abuse Guidelines due by 2025 The European Commission is seeking feedback on the adoption of Guidelines on exclusionary abuses of dominance under Article 102 TFEU. In the meantime, the Commission has amended its 2008 Guidance. Informal views issued in agricultural industry and banana sector The Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) informally accepted a commitment agreed by the partners of the Belgian Agro Food Chain Platform, limiting the possibility to contractually exclude the theory of change of circumstances. Proposal for a Directive to prevent misuse of shell entities (ATAD 3) and the amendments proposed by the European Parliament In mid-January 2023, the European Parliament approved the European Commission’s draft directive to prevent misuse of shell entities for tax purposes (known as ATAD 3), as amended by its Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Key markers on the Dutch Tax roadmap for 2023 In the latest installment of Tax Notes International, Charlotte Tolman and Michael Molenaars discuss major Dutch tax plans and developments expected for 2023 and how they may affect international business. ECJ in Unilever: commercial policy by dominant undertakings on thin ice Unilever shows the need to assess evidence on lack of anti-competitive effects in abuse cases and how liability can extend across different levels of the supply chain. Dominant undertakings had better think twice when imposing policy on distributors. Abuse: an access request you can’t refuse? The European Court of Justice has confirmed that the essential facilities test is limited to ‘pure’ access cases. Infringement of a regulatory access obligation must be assessed under the general framework for abuse of dominance. Belgian Competition Authority opens first hybrid cartel proceedings In the first hybrid cartel proceedings by the Belgian Competition Authority, the Prosecutor recently submitted a draft decision to condemn and impose a fine on pharmaceutical wholesaler CERP SA for allegedly participating in anticompetitive practices. The ACM’s priorities in 2023: the energy transition, digitalisation, and sustainability On 26 January 2023, the ACM announced that its priorities for 2023 would be the energy transition, the digital economy, and sustainability. This agenda is unsurprising in view of the ACM’s recent policy statements and enforcement actions. Tax Controversy Update February 2023 This Tax Alert addresses certain recent developments concerning procedural tax law in the Netherlands. Draft bill published to exclude RETT concurrence exemption for share deals The Dutch government launched an online consultation on a draft bill to exclude the application of the RETT concurrence exemption as per 1 January 2024 in case of the acquisition of a share interest in companies owning newly developed real estate. Proposed copyright tax reform feared to push investors abroad The controversial tax reform for income generated through copyright will have an enormous impact in various sectors such as IT. EU Member States reach agreement on Pillar Two The Council of the EU announced on 12 December 2022 that the EU Member States had unanimously reached agreement on the directive on the implementation of Pillar Two. It formally adopted the directive three days later. Competition law developments in 2022 While 2022 revolved around new and improved regulatory tools, the focus in 2023 will be on putting these tools to use. More merger-related obligations, digital sector scrutiny and clarity on competition-law and consumer-law aspects is imminent. Key developments in sustainability claims in 2022 In 2022, the ACM and the European Commission put the spotlight on the accuracy of companies’ sustainability claims. Notably, the ACM published several market studies and adopted commitment decisions concerning allegedly misleading sustainability claims. Levelling the playing field in 2023: new tools and hurdles While 2022 revolved around new and improved regulatory tools, the focus in 2023 will be on putting these tools to use. More merger-related obligations, digital sector scrutiny and clarity on competition-law and consumer-law aspects is imminent. Foreign investment developments in 2022 2022 marks the second year of the EU Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Regulation, and the year in which legislators haven been busy shaping the Dutch national security screening regime and the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation. Pillar Two – a new reality for the tax position of MNEs As of 1 January 2024, large-scale domestic and multinational groups within in the EU will face a minimum effective tax rate of 15%, as a result of the agreement reached by the EU Member States on the Directive implementing Pillar Two (the Directive). Pagination Current page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Next page
French supermarket dawn raids down the drain On 9 March 2023, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the European Commission should properly record interviews if they are used to gather information regarding the subject matter of the investigation.
Guidelines vs Guidance: exclusionary abuse Guidelines due by 2025 The European Commission is seeking feedback on the adoption of Guidelines on exclusionary abuses of dominance under Article 102 TFEU. In the meantime, the Commission has amended its 2008 Guidance.
Informal views issued in agricultural industry and banana sector The Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) informally accepted a commitment agreed by the partners of the Belgian Agro Food Chain Platform, limiting the possibility to contractually exclude the theory of change of circumstances.
Proposal for a Directive to prevent misuse of shell entities (ATAD 3) and the amendments proposed by the European Parliament In mid-January 2023, the European Parliament approved the European Commission’s draft directive to prevent misuse of shell entities for tax purposes (known as ATAD 3), as amended by its Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.
Key markers on the Dutch Tax roadmap for 2023 In the latest installment of Tax Notes International, Charlotte Tolman and Michael Molenaars discuss major Dutch tax plans and developments expected for 2023 and how they may affect international business.
ECJ in Unilever: commercial policy by dominant undertakings on thin ice Unilever shows the need to assess evidence on lack of anti-competitive effects in abuse cases and how liability can extend across different levels of the supply chain. Dominant undertakings had better think twice when imposing policy on distributors.
Abuse: an access request you can’t refuse? The European Court of Justice has confirmed that the essential facilities test is limited to ‘pure’ access cases. Infringement of a regulatory access obligation must be assessed under the general framework for abuse of dominance.
Belgian Competition Authority opens first hybrid cartel proceedings In the first hybrid cartel proceedings by the Belgian Competition Authority, the Prosecutor recently submitted a draft decision to condemn and impose a fine on pharmaceutical wholesaler CERP SA for allegedly participating in anticompetitive practices.
The ACM’s priorities in 2023: the energy transition, digitalisation, and sustainability On 26 January 2023, the ACM announced that its priorities for 2023 would be the energy transition, the digital economy, and sustainability. This agenda is unsurprising in view of the ACM’s recent policy statements and enforcement actions.
Tax Controversy Update February 2023 This Tax Alert addresses certain recent developments concerning procedural tax law in the Netherlands.
Draft bill published to exclude RETT concurrence exemption for share deals The Dutch government launched an online consultation on a draft bill to exclude the application of the RETT concurrence exemption as per 1 January 2024 in case of the acquisition of a share interest in companies owning newly developed real estate.
Proposed copyright tax reform feared to push investors abroad The controversial tax reform for income generated through copyright will have an enormous impact in various sectors such as IT.
EU Member States reach agreement on Pillar Two The Council of the EU announced on 12 December 2022 that the EU Member States had unanimously reached agreement on the directive on the implementation of Pillar Two. It formally adopted the directive three days later.
Competition law developments in 2022 While 2022 revolved around new and improved regulatory tools, the focus in 2023 will be on putting these tools to use. More merger-related obligations, digital sector scrutiny and clarity on competition-law and consumer-law aspects is imminent.
Key developments in sustainability claims in 2022 In 2022, the ACM and the European Commission put the spotlight on the accuracy of companies’ sustainability claims. Notably, the ACM published several market studies and adopted commitment decisions concerning allegedly misleading sustainability claims.
Levelling the playing field in 2023: new tools and hurdles While 2022 revolved around new and improved regulatory tools, the focus in 2023 will be on putting these tools to use. More merger-related obligations, digital sector scrutiny and clarity on competition-law and consumer-law aspects is imminent.
Foreign investment developments in 2022 2022 marks the second year of the EU Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Regulation, and the year in which legislators haven been busy shaping the Dutch national security screening regime and the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation.
Pillar Two – a new reality for the tax position of MNEs As of 1 January 2024, large-scale domestic and multinational groups within in the EU will face a minimum effective tax rate of 15%, as a result of the agreement reached by the EU Member States on the Directive implementing Pillar Two (the Directive).