Antitrust investigations: What are enforcers focusing on?

As part of our video series on antitrust and competition trends, Marianne Wagener and Violetta Bourt discuss recent developments regarding antitrust investigations. This includes discussion of dawn raid trends, including developments since the COVID-19 pandemic, notable fines on companies and individuals for non-compliance during raids and increased focus on personal devices, communications via social media apps and raids on domestic premises.   

The video also discusses the use of market investigation or sector inquiry powers as another way to address potential competition concerns, including calls to revive the so-called “new competition tool” to give the European Commission powers to impose remedies in sectors with structural competition concerns. Ongoing interest by authorities regarding public interest type concerns, including no-poach and wage-fixing agreements, is also discussed.