Articles

Competition on the merits in liberalised electricity markets: a regulatory reading of AG Rantos’ Opinion in Servizio Elettrico Nazionale
Ignacio Herrera Anchustegui and Leigh Hancher

AG Rantos’ Opinion highlights the importance of data use in the market liberalisation process and offers guidance for network sectors on when this may amount to anticompetitive leveraging. The Opinion provides a benchmark for Article 102 cases, while also leaving the door open for further discussion of some key issues for EU competition policy in general

CMA gives Home Office procurements the backscatter treatment
Euan Burrows, Steven Vaz and Edward McNeill
Ashurst LLP, London

In March 2022 the CMA opened an investigation into suspected anti-competitive conduct in connection with UK Home Office procurement processes for contracts to supply services at two immigration removal centres. The investigation is a reminder that bidders for public contracts must be aware of the obligations on contracting authorities under public procurement law as well as their own obligations under competition law

Case Comments
Lloyd v Google: What next for representative class actions?
William Allison and David Cumins
DAC Beachcroft, London

In Lloyd’s v Google the Supreme Court refused the claimant’s request to undertake a class action on behalf of some 4 million UK iphone users, holding that class members did not have the ‘same interest’ in the claim. This decision does not affect ‘opt-out’ antitrust class actions brought under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the landmark decision in Merricks v Mastercard remains unaffected. 

General Court dismisses Scania’s appeal against truck cartel decision and maintains EUR 880.5 million fine
Deminor, London

In the case of a cartel restricting competition on the market for medium and heavy trucks in the EEA, Scania had, unlike five other truck manufacturers, refused to settle with the Commission in 2016. The General Court upheld the existence of a single and continuous infringement on the part of Scania and, among others, rejected arguments relating to the presumption of innocence and restrictions of competition by object.

Consultation opens on developing the UK Emissions Trading Scheme
Dalia Majumder-Russell, Valerie Allan and James Snape
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP, London

The Consultation proposes significantly expanding the scope of the UK ETS scheme in sectors already covered – energy intensive industries, power generation and aviation. It also seeks evidence on potential future developments, including future markets policy, incorporating greenhouse gas removal into the scheme, and addressing greenhouse gas emissions in land use and agriculture

Finally! UK issues solution for UK personal data transfers
Jena M. Valdetero
Greenberg Traurig LLP, Chicago

This comment offers some advice to companies following the ICO’s long-awaited publication of the UK transfer mechanism post-Brexit

EU Current Survey
Edited by Peter Alexiadis King’s College, London, and Brussels and Christoph Raab Binder Groesswang, Vienna

Energy – Telecommunications and Digital Economy – Transport

Malta Report
Paul Edgar Micallef
University of Malta
Breach of La Liga’s intellectual property rights by illegal streaming or transmission

UK Current Survey
Edited by Philippa Young
Solicitor, Oxford

Broadcasting – Energy – Post – Telecommunications – Transport