Good evening,
Below are three charts that show that the dramatic increase in the European Commission’s competition fines against companies – particularly European companies – over the past three years. In fact, 67% of all competition fines in the world have been paid by European companies. French and German companies have been particularly hard hit with high fines. Disproportionate fines hurt the competitiveness of European companies and jeopardize European country’s employment and industrial strength.
Also worth reading is an interview with Ian Forrester, QC, of White & Case LLP, in which he points out,
“…It’s difficult for outsiders to know the extent to which economic conditions drive the European Commission’s decisions in competition matters – but I think it’s safe to say, especially right now, that no commissioner wants to render a company insolvent or put it out of business because of a heavy fine. There have been some expressions of anxiety in recent months within the European Commission and Parliament about the high level of fines.” The full interview: http://www.bulletproofblog.com/2009/10/19/whats-next-the-bulletproof-interview-ian-forrester-on-the-european-antitrust-landscape/
Total amount of the fines imposed by the Delors II, Santer, Prodi and Barroso’s Commissions
Largest Fines Levied in 2007-2009 and Country of Origin
| Year | Company | Fine (in €) | Country(s) of Origin |
| 2007 | Thyssen Krupp | 479,669,850 | Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands |
| | Siemens | 396,562,500 | Germany |
| | Otis | 224,932,950 | Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands |
| 2008 | Saint-Gobain | 896,000,000 | France |
| | Pilkington | 370,000,000 | United Kingdom |
| | Sasol | 318,200,000 | South Africa, Germany |
| 2009 | Intel Corp. | 1,060,000,000 | United States |
| | E.ON AG | 553,000,000 | Germany |
| | GDF Suez SA | 553,000,000 | France |
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/competition
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Kelly Cross
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Levick Strategic Communications, LLC
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