The Covington US and EU Competition/Antitrust teams will be updating you regularly, through the Covington Competition blog, on the competition/antitrust law implications – both procedural and substantive – of the COVID-19 crisis in the US and the EU. This is our update for Wednesday 1 April. Today’s new updates as compared to the previous update are highlighted: EU / State Aid (clearances). Continue Reading
COVID 19 – US and EU Competition Law Implications (30 March 2020)
The Covington US and EU Competition/Antitrust teams will be updating you regularly, through the Covington Competition blog, on the competition/antitrust law implications – both procedural and substantive – of the COVID-19 crisis in the US and the EU. This is our update for Monday 30 March. Today’s new updates as compared to the previous update are highlighted: EU / State Aid (substantive appraisal, state aid clearances), Mergers (Denmark), Abuse and Cartel Investigations. Continue Reading
Competition Guardrails for Collaborating in Response to COVID-19
COVID‑19 has caused a public health crisis and extreme disruption to economic markets. As communities, governments, and businesses come together to combat these challenges, questions are naturally arising about how to comply with the antitrust laws under such extraordinary circumstances.
The United States antitrust agencies have advised that, with limited exception, companies should rely on a traditional application of the antitrust rules and guidelines. Even well-intentioned collaborations can run afoul of the antitrust rules, so it is important to seek legal counsel prior to entering into new collaborations or expanding the scope of existing ones, especially with competitors. Continue Reading
COVID 19 – US and EU Competition Law Implications (27 March 2020)
The Covington US and EU Competition/Antitrust teams will be updating you regularly, through the Covington Competition blog, on the competition/antitrust law implications – both procedural and substantive – of the COVID-19 crisis in the US and the EU. This is our update for Friday 27 March. Today’s new updates as compared to the previous update are highlighted: United States / Mergers and European Union / Mergers (France). Continue Reading
COVID 19 – US and EU Competition Law Implications (26 March 2020)
The Covington US and EU Competition/Antitrust teams will be updating you regularly, through the Covington Competition blog, on the competition/antitrust law implications – both procedural and substantive – of the COVID-19 crisis in the US and the EU. This is our update for Thursday 26 March. New updates as compared to the previous update are highlighted. Continue Reading
Competition laws must be respected even in difficult times – but they are flexible!
This blog post explores whether collaboration among competitors to manufacture and/or distribute critical products and services in specific sectors such as logistics, medical supplies, and groceries and supermarkets, etc. can be justified under European competition law during a crisis even when the collaboration would not be defensible in the absence of the crisis. Continue Reading
COVID 19 – US and EU Competition Law Implications (25 March 2020)
The Covington US and EU Competition/Antitrust teams will be updating you regularly, through the Covington Competition blog, on the competition/antitrust law implications – both procedural and substantive – of the COVID-19 crisis in the US and the EU. This is our update for Wednesday 25 March. New updates as compared to the previous update are highlighted. Continue Reading
The Commission’s Temporary Framework for State Aid Measures to Support the Economy during the COVID-19 Outbreak
On 19 March 2020, the European Commission adopted a Temporary Framework for State aid measures to support the economy in the current COVID-19 outbreak (“The Framework”). The Framework is based on Article 107(3)(b) of the TFEU, which allows State aid to be granted in order to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy. It sets out the conditions under which the Commission will assess State aid granted by Member States to remedy liquidity shortages and problems in access to finance undertakings are faced with and to ensure that the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak do not undermine their viability. Measures that meet the conditions set out in the Framework must be notified to the Commission but will be considered to be compatible with the Internal Market.
COVID 19 – US and EU Competition Law Implications (24 March 2020)
The Covington US and EU Competition/Antitrust teams will be updating you regularly, through the Covington Competition blog, on the competition/antitrust law implications – both procedural and substantive – of the COVID-19 crisis in the US and the EU. This is our update for Tuesday 24 March. Continue Reading
COVID 19 – US and EU Competition Law Implications (23 March 2020)
The Covington US and EU Competition/Antitrust teams will be updating you regularly, through the Covington Competition blog, on the competition/antitrust law implications – both procedural and substantive – of the COVID-19 crisis in the US and the EU. This is our update for Monday 23 March. Continue Reading
