Antitrust Case 38700 | Greek lignite and electricity markets

Author (Corporate)
Publication Date 17/04/2018
Content Type

Further information:

The European Commission found in March 2008 that Greece had infringed competition rules by giving the state-owned electricity incumbent (PPC) privileged access rights to lignite, and called on the country to propose measures to correct the anti-competitive effects of that infringement. Greece submitted a set of measures to address the situation and made binding by the Commission in August 2009.

However, these were never implemented. Both Commission Decisions were appealed by the PPC. In September 2012, the General Court overturned these decisions, putting on hold the implementation of remedy measures by Greece. The Commission then appealed against the General Court's judgment. In July 2014, the Court of Justice set aside the General Court's judgments and referred the cases back to the General Court for a number of non-decided pleas. Finally, in December 2016, the General Court confirmed both decisions, making the Commission's decisions final and binding.

In April 2018, the Commission concluded that the amended final version of the remedies submitted by Greece in January 2018 fully addresses the infringement identified by the Commission in its 2008 Decision, while also taking into account Greece's environmental objectives and existing market circumstances.

The divestment of a portion of PPC's lignite-fired generation capacity was also included in the Supplemental Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed and signed by Greece and the Commission acting on behalf of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).

Source Link Link to Main Source http://ec.europa.eu/competition/elojade/isef/case_details.cfm?proc_code=1_38700
Related Links
European Commission: Press Release, 01.04.04: Commission warns Greece about exclusive rights granted to PPC for electricity production based on lignite http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-04-436_en.htm
European Commission: Press Release, 06.08.09: Commission accepts commitments by Greece to ensure fair access to Greek lignite deposits http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-09-1226_en.htm
European Commission: Press Release, 05.03.08: Commission calls on Greece to grant fairer access to lignite so as to improve competition in the electricity sector http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-08-386_en.htm
European Commission: Press Release, 14.01.11: Commission market tests measures proposed by Greece concerning the Greek electricity market http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-11-34_en.htm
Kathimerini, 27.11.17: Greece, EU strike ‘preliminary deal’ on coal-fired plants sale, says minister http://www.ekathimerini.com/223642/article/ekathimerini/business/greece-eu-strike-preliminary-deal-on-coal-fired-plants-sale-says-minister
EurActiv [Opinion]: Greek coal: The EU’s dirty little secret https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/opinion/greek-coal-the-eus-dirty-little-secret/
Reuters, 18.04.18: Greece submits bill on coal-fired plants sale, union threatens strikes https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1HP2TN

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