Dear Readers,
It has been another exceptionally busy week at Competition.Today, marked in particular by major developments in private enforcement and a wave of significant fines across jurisdictions. Courts delivered several important judgments shaping the future of collective actions in the UK, while competition authorities showed no hesitation in imposing substantial financial penalties for cartel conduct, abuse of dominance and procedural breaches.
In public enforcement, this week stands out for the scale and breadth of sanctions imposed. From Poland’s nearly $95 million cartel fine in the agricultural machinery sector, to European Commission penalties in the automotive batteries cartel and multiple national decisions across Spain, Lithuania, Hungary and Bulgaria, enforcement authorities closed the year with unmistakable intensity.
Litigation was equally consequential. The UK Supreme Court’s ruling tightening the opt-out collective actions regime in the FX damages case is a landmark moment for private enforcement. At the same time, the €54 million settlement in the Ro-Ro cartel case brought long-running proceedings closer to their conclusion. Outside the UK, the Berlin court’s damages ruling against Booking.com represents a further milestone in follow-on actions linked to vertical restraints.
Taken together, this week captures a broader theme: enforcement is intensifying on all fronts, while courts and regulators continue to refine the tools and boundaries of competition law. As the year draws to a close, the pace shows little sign of slowing.
As ever, thank you for reading and for your continued engagement.
Please share any comments or suggestions with me by email at
sylwester.frazzoni@competition.today
Have a great weekend,
Sylwester Frazzoni
Managing Editor
Here is the week’s selection, organised by theme.
Fines And Public Enforcement
This was a heavy fines week, with authorities across Europe demonstrating sustained enforcement momentum:
- Poland imposed nearly $95 million in cartel fines in the farm machinery sector.
- The European Commission fined automotive battery manufacturers around $78 million for a long-running surcharge cartel.
- Lithuania sanctioned EdTech providers $3.1 million for market sharing.
- Spain fined Naturgy unit $6 million for restricting competition in electricity meter installations.
- Hungary penalised Bravogroup for gun-jumping, reinforcing procedural discipline in merger control.
- Additional fines were imposed in Bulgaria (insurance intermediation) and across several national cartel and dominance cases.
Merger Reviews And Transaction Control
Merger enforcement remained robust and interventionist:
- The Australian ACCC moved to block Yamaha’s proposed acquisition of Telwater, citing substantial competition concerns.
- The UK CMA published updated merger remedies guidance, sharpening its focus on effectiveness and long-term market outcomes.
Policy And Regulatory Developments
Policy makers and regulators issued important guidance shaping future enforcement priorities:
- China revised its rules on vertical agreements and published new non-horizontal merger guidelines.
- The European Commission unveiled its first Affordable Housing Plan, easing state aid rules to address structural market failures.
- South Korea’s KFTC signalled a tougher stance on market power and unfair practices in its 2026 policy roadmap.
- Authorities in France, Sweden and the Netherlands published market studies and policy warnings addressing pricing pressures, natural monopolies and consumer protection risks.
- Several regulators, including the ACCC and France’s Autorité de la concurrence, highlighted emerging competition risks linked to AI and digitalisation.
Litigation And Private Enforcement
Courts delivered multiple decisions with systemic implications for damages actions:
Ongoing disputes in interchange fee litigation (CICC I v Visa and Mastercard) further clarified opt-in class boundaries.
The UK Supreme Court tightened the framework for opt-out collective actions in the FX damages case, significantly shaping future claims strategy.
The Competition Appeal Tribunal continued its close procedural supervision in Gormsen v Meta, while ordering disclosure of supplier attestation names in Shein v Temu.
A £54 million settlement in the Ro-Ro cartel litigation brings total recoveries to nearly £93 million, marking a landmark outcome for collective redress.
The Berlin Regional Court ordered Booking.com to compensate over 1,000 accommodation providers for unlawful parity clauses.
(For full case-by-case reporting, see the Court Reporting section — now updated daily.)
View all this week’s 62 news stories here.
