Author: Stijn Huijts
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Why deep tech cannot adequately tap into European public sector support (and what to do about it)
Europe is stuck in a static industrial structure with few new companies rising up to disrupt existing industries or develop new growth engines. This is not because we lack ambition, ideas, or talent, but because we fail to translate innovation into commercialisation. Europe’s lack of industrial dynamism owes in large part to weaknesses along the…
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Reform of Regulation 1/2003 and access to the file: is the DMA/DSA approach helpful?
The answer to the question posed in the title is simple: “No”. This note explains the reasons why. Access to the file after the adoption of a Statement of Objections (SO) in EU competition law enforcement procedures is a time consuming and painful process for all involved. It is, however, an essential way to ensure…
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The DOJ’s remedy proposal in Google Ad Tech – Correcting a broken market
On 17 April 2025, Judge Leonie Brinkema of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled that Google monopolised two digital advertising technology markets and unlawfully tied its publisher ad server (“DFP”) and its ad exchange (“AdX”). This marked a huge success for the U.S. federal government and 17 states who had…
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The EU Court of Justice’s judgment in Intel II and its implications for the draft Guidelines
Ever since the adoption in February 2009 of the European Commission’s Guidance Paper on its enforcement priorities in applying Article 102 (then 82) and in May 2009 of its decision in the Intel case, the correct analytical framework for rebates granted by dominant undertakings has been the subject of significant debate. The Commission sought to…
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The Draghi report on EU competition law – A welcome attempt to answer Europe’s Goldilocks dilemma
This week, Mario Draghi presented his long-anticipated report on European Competitiveness to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Reporters were quick to say that Mr Draghi’s plans already looked impossible after the German Finance Minister dismissed his recommendation for more joint borrowing in the EU. But this may miss the point of reports like…
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A Dutch Merricks? Amsterdam Court of Appeal rules on fundamentals of class actions in TPC v Oracle and Salesforce
Class actions in which damages can be awarded on a collective basis are still a relatively new phenomenon in Europe, with the UK, Portuguese and Dutch opt-out collective action regimes seen as frontrunners. It has dawned on policymakers and lawyers alike that damages can be suffered across a broad and disparate group of victims, which…
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Interview with Joost Rietveld, UCL School of Management
Partners Damien Geradin and Stijn Huijts had the pleasure of sitting down with Joost Rietveld, an Associate Professor of Strategic Management at the UCL School of Management, University College London, to discuss his fascinating insights into platform competition and strategy. Joost has been a major contributor to the public debate in this area in the…
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Interview with Martijn Snoep, Head of the Dutch competition authority
Partners Ruben Elkerbout and Stijn Huijts had the pleasure of catching up with Martijn Snoep, the head of the Dutch Competition Authority (ACM) recently. Mr Snoep moved to the ACM from law firm De Brauw in 2018. He has been at the forefront of many internationally renowned initiatives at the ACM, including an investigation into…
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7 March is DMA D-Day: What does this mean?
Today, the large digital platforms that have been designated by the European Commission as “gatekeepers” must start to comply with the Digital Markets Act (or DMA). This marks a milestone for businesses operating in the EU because the DMA will resolve many challenges they face in their relations with gatekeepers, such as lack of access…
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Back in the game: Court of Appeal sides with CMA against Apple in mobile browsers and cloud gaming market investigation
Yesterday, the CMA successfully overturned the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s (CAT) ruling that the CMA’s market investigation reference (MIR) into mobile browsers and cloud gaming was out of time and therefore unlawful. This opens the door to the CMA reopening the MIR which could lead to significant remedies being imposed against Apple. Background The CMA’s MIR…