Memo: Antitrust: Commission welcomes General Court judgment confirming its inspection powers in the area of electronic searches

The European Commission welcomed on the 26 November 2014 the judgment of the EU General Court (case T-272/12), dismissing an appeal by Energetický a průmyslový holding (EPH) and its subsidiary EP Investment Advisors (EPIA) against a €2.5 million fine the Commission imposed on them in 2012. EPH and EPIA were fined for obstructing a Commission inspection in an antitrust investigation, by failing to block an email account and diverting incoming emails. The judgment sent a clear message to companies that any steps that undermine the integrity and effectiveness of inspections, including tampering with data stored electronically, were illegal and would be sanctioned.

ESO: Background information: Antitrust: Commission fines Czech energy companies Energetický a průmyslový holding and EP Investment Advisors € 2.5 million for obstruction during inspection http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-antitrust-commission-fines-czech-energy-companies-energeticky-a-prumyslovy-holding-and-ep-investment-advisors-e-2-5-million-for-obstruction-during-inspection/

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