// Blog
Bonn Against Amazon: A remarkable initiative by the Federal Cartel Office
Amazon’s market power is enormous. In e-commerce, the company accounts for 60 percent of online sales in Germany. The Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) is taking action against the abuse of that power. This is an important, though long-overdue step.
The EU’s clearance of Google/Wiz: the wrong decision
Civil society organisations across Europe seriously regret the European Commission’s decision to unconditionally clear Google’s proposed acquisition of Wiz. The decision runs...
Digital Merger Watch: Current trends in big tech mergers
We are part of the Digital Merger Watch (DMW) project. In this project, we track Big Tech’s mergers and acquisitions. Here is our latest update.
Merger Control: Revisions to the EU Guidelines
The European Commission is currently revising its merger guidelines. We are closely monitoring this process and are advocating for a strengthening of the guidelines. Only recently, we have been participating in workshops organised by the Commission.
Our submission on the Risks of Google’s Acquisition of Wiz
Google intends to acquire the cybersecurity firm Wiz for $32 billion. This would be the largest acquisition in Google’s history and another step toward strengthening Google’s market power. Together with partners, we have submitted a formal submission to the European Competition Authority, urging a thorough investigation of this merger.
New analysis of the Google empire
Big tech companies are surprisingly flexible in how they exercise power over the development and control of technology. An empirical study by Aline Blankertz, Brianna Rock and...
Open letter on Google adtech case to von der Leyen and Ribera
Over 70 press freedom groups and NGOs, businesses, experts, and think tanks have called on the European Commission to rejects Google’s offered remedies in the adtech antitrust case. The letter initiated by Open Markets Institute, Future of Tech Institute and Rebalance Now, calls for structural remedies to curb Google’s anti-competitive practices.
Expert event in Brussels: Tightening the EU’s Merger Guidelines
The EU is revising its merger guidelines. In an event in the European Parliament, we argue for stronger rules to curb rising market concentration.
Structural measures explained: how to break up firms well
Competition authorities have been hesitant to use structural remedies in the recent past. This background paper documents that breakups are a perfectly feasible instrument of competition policy, with a track record of effectively tackling competition concerns.
The German Monopolies Commission investigates the power of supermarkets
Sharp rises in food prices are a burden for many people. At the same time, farmers are under high price pressure and many producers are complaining about unfair trading practices. The Monopolies Commission is currently investigating food supply chains and market concentration in the sector. Where does the process stand today?
Europe’s opportunity: Resolute against the market power of tech companies
US tech companies are doing everything they can to undermine the enforcement of European laws. The EU must not allow itself to be intimidated by this. On the contrary. The European Commission must act decisively now and set the course.
The European Commission can and must act on excessive prices
The European control of abuse of dominance provides for the prohibition of exploitative abuse by companies. Exploitative abuse occurs, for example, when companies set excessive...
