Press Release: Antitrust: Commission market tests commitments proposed by Siemens and Areva concerning nuclear technology markets

The European Commission is inviting comments from interested parties on the commitments offered by Siemens and Areva to meet concerns that they may have infringed EU antitrust rules.

The Commission has concerns that a non-compete obligation covering a number of nuclear technology markets agreed by Siemens and Areva may be in breach of rules that prohibit anti-competitive agreements (Article 101 of the TFEU). Siemens and Areva have proposed to reduce both the product scope and the duration of the non-compete obligation. If the market test confirms that the proposed commitments remedy the competition concerns, the Commission may adopt a decision under Article 9 of Regulation 1/2003, making the commitments legally binding on Siemens and Areva.