Press Release: Anti-trust: Groupement des Cartes Bancaires restricts competition by hindering the issuance of cards at competitive prices

The Commission has addressed a decision to Groupement des Cartes Bancaires 'CB' (France) in which it concludes that the latter has infringed the EC Treaty rules prohibiting practices which restrict competition (Article 81). The Groupement has adopted price measures which hinder the issuing of cards in France at competitive rates by certain member banks, thereby keeping the price of payment cards artificially high to the benefit of the major French banks. Consumers are the victims of this illegal practice, which deprives them of cheaper cards and a more diversified product offering. The decision orders the Groupement to annul the measures concerned with immediate effect and in future to avoid taking any measures with a similar purpose or effect.

European Commission: MEMO/07/413: Antitrust: Decision addressed to Groupement des Cartes Bancaires - Frequently asked questions http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/413&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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