Latest news and stories about competition law in government in Portugal for expats and residents.
Competition Law expert José Caramelo Gomes argues that while there is no formal cartel in the Portuguese fuel market, the lack of competition results in cartel-like pricing, necessitating government intervention to separate infrastructure and refining operations.
Companies are increasingly sensitive to competition issues as competition law enters a phase of expectation and apparent transformation, according to Sara M. Rodrigues, senior associate and co-ordinator of Eversheds Sutherland’s Competition, Trade and Foreign Investment Department. Rodrigues warns that investigations have ongoing consequences and that regulators — and firms — must recognise that processes do not end with the initial investigation conclusion, heightening the need for robust compliance, legal preparedness and attention to reform and enforcement trends.
The new law comes into force while several cases are at risk of expiring. The amendment had been requested by the Competition Authority.
According to Nuno Cunha Rodrigues, there are 800 million euros in fines related to 22 cases at risk of expiring, 16 of which have led to requests for preliminary rulings from the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Parliament today approved in general terms two bills, from the PCP and Chega, for the calculation of deadlines for pending cases in courts regarding violations of competition rules to follow the 2022 law, in order to avoid statute of limitations.
Veteran eurocrat Anthony Whelan is a safe pair of hands to lead the Commission’s competition department into a new era — especially for President Ursula von der Leyen.
The “probability” of information exchanges between banks, as occurred between 2002 and 2013, has decreased. “This cannot leave us satisfied,” argues Álvaro Santos Pereira.
The PCP parliamentary group has submitted a bill to the Assembly of the Republic aimed at surgically amending the competition law to prevent further cases from reaching their statute of limitations. The communists are advancing this legislative initiative after the president of the Competition Authority (AdC) warned last week about the issue.
The Competition Authority (AdC) sanctioned the Association of Tourist Information Guides of the Azores (AGITA) €8,200 for breaching competition rules. The case concerns the setting of minimum prices to be charged for tour guide services across the Azores archipelago. “The AdC's investigation concluded that AGITA recommended to its members, ...”
Italy's competition authority has fined Ryanair €255 million for abusing its dominant market position.
