Now Mundt talks about the new powers of the German competition authority under the bill recently passed by the German federal government to amend the German competition act (GWB). “New tool” to intervene in the market and to remedy malfunctions of competition (incl. to break up companies) requires “extremely thorough and lengthy procedures”. It will not be quick, it will require many resources, it is not for the “low hanging fruits.”
#antitrust

Mundt now talks about setbacks of competition authorities under the “more economic approach,” including the “Intel” case. There are initiatives to “strike the right balance” between economics and legal certainty, efficiency. Too few merger prohibitions and too many clearances with behavioural remedies at the EU level, in his opinion.
#antitrust

This was once the headquarters of the former GDR Supreme Governing Council … and it still shows 😉 What an irony to be talking about competition policy here out of all places.

And here is another chart comparing monthly merger filings in 2022 with filings in 2021 and with filings in the pre-Covid period
#MergerControl