ACM is threatening to hand out more fines and has promised to process cases faster. If ACM suits its actions to its words, 2019 will be all about competition law. Plenty of challenges for ACM, therefore. Will it get a handle on alleged restraints of trade in the digital world? Will ACM be able to successfully take action against vertical agreements? What will ACM and the NZa do about expensive medicines? What approach will the NZa and ACM take to healthcare mergers and the duty of care of healthcare insurers? Meanwhile, the European Commission has stated that it is in favour of a Digital Single Market. The Commission has stated that it considered geo-blocking a serious violation and, partly for that reason, imposed a €40 million fine on Guess. Is that the end of the matter or only the beginning? How will the Commission and other competition authorities handle political pressure to give the go-ahead to certain mergers to create a European or national champion? Will that again lead to a prohibition, as in the case of the merger of train builders Siemens and Alstom? How will ACM view the acquisition of PostNL and Sandd? And will ACM continue to focus on the enforcement of consumer law?
In sum, 2019 is already an interesting year from the perspective of economic market regulation. As you have come to expect of us, a summary of the main upcoming developments is provided below.