Brussels, October 20, 2025 — The European Commission (EC) has carried out unannounced inspections at several companies active in the ski equipment sector, amid suspicions that firms may have engaged in anticompetitive agreements.
The EC said it suspects that the inspected companies may have breached Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which prohibits cartels and other restrictive business practices. Officials from national competition authorities accompanied the Commission’s teams during the raids.
The authority emphasized that unannounced inspections are a preliminary step in investigating potential infringements. Their occurrence does not imply that the companies are guilty or that the outcome of the investigation is predetermined.
There is no fixed deadline for completing such inquiries, the EC said, as their duration depends on factors including the case’s complexity, the level of cooperation from the companies involved, and the exercise of procedural rights.
The Commission also reminded individuals and companies that they can anonymously report suspected anticompetitive behaviour through its encrypted whistleblower platform, which enables two-way communication while protecting confidentiality.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_2430
