Maria Kallidopoulou

The EU’s Draft Merger Guidelines Are Here — What does this mean for businesses?

  Introductory remarks On 30 April 2026, the European Commission (the Commission) published its long-awaited draft updated merger control guidelines (the Draft Guidelines). This represents one of the most significant reforms to the EU merger control framework of the past decades. Once adopted, it will replace the current 2004 Horizontal Merger Guidelines and the 2008 READ FULL ARTICLE

Abuse of Dominance and Follow-On Damages: Recent Developments in Heineken v MTB Case

On 18 February 2026, the Amsterdam District Court accepted the damages methodology proposed by Macedonia Thrace Brewery (MTB), known for its Vergina brand, in its long-running dispute with Heineken and its Greek subsidiary, Athenian Brewery (AB), ruling that MTB’s damages amount to at least EUR 43 million. The case stems from a 2014 decision of the Hellenic Competition Commission, which found that AB had abused its dominant position in the Greek beer market through an exclusionary strategy, including exclusivity arrangements with on-trade outlets, conditional shelf-space discounts at retail level, and discriminatory credit policies at wholesale level. Our latest article... READ FULL ARTICLE

Hellenic Competition Commission issues Practical Guide on Resale Price Maintenance (RPM) – What You Need to Know

On 16 January 2026, the Hellenic Competition Commission issued a practical guide on resale price maintenance. The Guide sheds light on the HCC’s enforcement approach to RPM by also providing helpful practical examples. By issuing this guidance, the HCC also signals that such practices fall within its enforcement priorities. In this article, you can read our comprehensive analysis of the Guide, highlighting the importance of businesses' compliance with RPM.  READ FULL ARTICLE

A revised Market Definition Notice has been adopted by the European Commission – Key takeaways

The European Commission adopted on 8 February 2024 the revised Market Definition Notice for the purposes of EU competition law, marking the first update since its adoption 27 years ago. The notice introduces a series of novelties in response to significant economic changes resulting from the rise of digital markets and globalization. The present article provides an overview of the key developments enshrined in the revised Market Definition Notice in relation to, inter alia, innovation-intensive markets, multi-sided platforms, digital ecosystems and global markets. READ FULL ARTICLE

Misleading discounts and unfair profitability: What businesses should know in order to avoid fines (in Greek)

In the past few months, the Hellenic Ministry of Development, together with the Interagency for Market Control (DI.M.E.A.), has conducted a series of inspections that led to the imposition of heavy fines to businesses that were found to have infringed the relevant legislation on misleading discounts and unfair profitability. By doing so, the Ministry of Development aims at responding to inflation pressures exerted on the Greek economy and combatting any profiteering practices exercised by businesses against consumers’ interests and welfare. The present article provides an overview of the relevant legislation in relation to misleading discounts and unfair profitability, as... READ FULL ARTICLE

Foreign Subsidies Regulation is here: What you need to know for M&A

On 12 January 2023, the European Union’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation (“FSR”) entered into force, and it has already started to apply on 12 July 2023. The impact of the FSR will be significant, in particular for M&A transactions, given that it will result in a substantial burden for businesses. In this article we provide an overview of the basic concepts of the FSR and its implications and suggest ways companies can prepare in order to comply with the relevant regulatory burdens. READ FULL ARTICLE

Digital Markets Act: the first six digital “gatekeepers” have been designated

On 6 September 2023, the European Commission designated the first six online platforms as “gatekeepers” under the DMA. This designation entails specific responsibilities for the designated undertakings who must adopt measures to comply with the obligations imposed by the DMA. In order for a digital platform to be designated as a gatekeeper, certain substantive and quantitative criteria must be fulfilled. The article provides an overview of the relevant regulatory framework, the criteria for the "gatekeepers’" designation, their obligations, as well as the European Commission's powers for the enforcement of the DMA READ FULL ARTICLE

The “household basket” – What should businesses pay attention to in terms of competition law? (in Greek)

One of the current issues that has elicited various reactions, including from the Competition Commission, is the so-called "household basket", which is the subject of article 87 of Law 4986/2022. An interesting perspective to examine the new concept from is competition law, to underline the issues that may arise for the businesses involved, including supermarkets and suppliers, as well as to outline potential risks and suggestions. READ FULL ARTICLE