On 2 March 2011 the Investigations Division of the CNC extended the formal investigations that it is undertaking in case S/0244/10 Navieras, commenced on 7 July 2010, to include Servicios y Concesiones Marítimas Ibicencas, S.A. ('Servicios').

On 1 March 2011, the Spanish Competition Authority ('CNC') Council resolved that the behaviour of Grafoplas del Noroeste, S.A. ('Grafoplas') in the course of an inspection carried out by the CNC's officials on 27 October 2010 at Grafoplas' premises in Culleredo (Coruña), constituted obstruction of an inspection.

The Investigations Division of the CNC has decided to extend the research currently being carried out in the asphalt sector to Burgos-based construction firm Conalvi S.L., within the framework of the infringement procedure initiated on 17 December 2009, for practices prohibited by Article 1 of the Spanish Competition Act, 2007.

After a preliminary confidential investigation, the Investigations Division of the CNC resolved on 13 January 2011 to open formal proceedings against the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (Federación Española de Municipios y Provincias), the Higher Council of the Colleges of Architects of Spain (Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España).

On 10 May, the CNC opened infringement proceedings against Endesa for a possible abuse of dominant market position contrary to Article 2 of the SCA for using information obtained as a power distributor to develop business activities in the related market for power installations.

On 19 and 27 October 2010, the Spanish Competition Authority ('CNC'), carried out dawn raids in the headquarters of the main companies active on the market for manufacturing, distribution and marketing of paper envelopes, office material and other products related to the manufacturing of paper.

After a preliminary confidential investigation carried out on its own initiative, the Investigations Division of the CNC opened formal proceedings on 17 January 2011 against Telefónica Móviles de España, S.A.U., Vodafone España, S.A.U. and France Telecom España, S.A. (the "Operators") for a possible abuse of a dominant position, prohibited by article 2 of the Spanish Competition Act and Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ('TFEU').

The CNC has recently opened disciplinary proceedings against three copyright collection agencies for possible anti-competitive conduct prohibited by Article 2 of the Spanish Competition Act 15/2007, and Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

On 14 April 2010, the Spanish National Competition Commission ("CNC"), began formal proceedings against several companies that manufacture luxury watches as well as their Spanish importers on suspicion of anti-competitive behaviour in relation to the repair of luxury watches by independent watch repairers.

The Spanish Parliament definitively approved the Sustainable Economy Act (the 'SEA') (Ley de Economía Sostenible) on 15 February 2011.

Last week, European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes (the "Commissioner"), gave a speech in Brazil about recent developments in prosecuting cartels both in Europe and internationally.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced on Wednesday, 22 September, that five men have been charged with conspiracy to corrupt over the award of contracts in major engineering projects in the energy sector. The aggregate value of the contracts is GBP 66 million.

On 13 July 2010, the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee announced a major inquiry into competition and choice in the banking sector, which aims to address concerns that competition in the sector is not working.

On 2 March, the OFT announced that it had made a fast-track reference to the Competition Commission ('CC') of the anticipated travel business joint venture between Thomas Cook, the Cooperative Group and the Midlands Co-operative Society.

The Office of Fair Trading ('OFT') has concluded that it has no grounds to take action against low cost airline Flybe over alleged predatory behaviour.

Following the appointment of the new European Commission last week, steps have been taken to reorganise the Commission's structure with the creation of two new Directorates-General (DGs). DG Energy and DG Climate Action have been established as proposed by Commission President Barroso last year.

The US Department of Justice (the "DoJ") announced this week the clearance of the merger between Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc and Live Nation Inc, subject to certain remedies. It is requiring that Ticketmaster license its ticketing software, divest ticketing assets and subject itself to certain behavioural conditions

The articles covered this week are: EU developments, Commissioner for Competition gives speech on Settlements in Cartel Cases, European Parliament votes in favour of telecoms reform

The BKartA has cleared a merger between two press distributors, Roth+Horsch Pressevertrieb GmbH & Co. KG, Weiterstadt ("Roth+Horsch") and Presse Vertrieb Pfalz GmbH & Co. KG, Frankenthal ("PV Pfalz").

The German Federal Cartel Office ("FCO") has this week published the final report concerning its sector enquiry into the gas transport market, criticising in particular the capacity restrictions in the German trans-regional natural gas transport infrastructure and requesting more "green lights" throughout the network.