The German Whistleblower Protection Act was (finally) passed on 12 May 2023, after several attempts, following final amendments proposed by the Mediation Committee on 9 May 2023, which have now been accepted by the Federal Parliament (Bundestag) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). The long overdue law serves to implement the European Whistleblower Directive (Directive (EU) 2019/1937), which actually provided for an implementation deadline of December 2021. The law will now come into force in mid-June 2023.

On 5 April 2023, the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection published the government draft of the 11th amendment to the Act against Restraints of Competition. Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck described the amendment as “one of the biggest reforms of competition law in recent decades”, which – in the words of Federal Minister of Justice Dr. Marco Buschmann – is intended to give the German Federal Cartel Office more “teeth”

On 22 March 2023, the Belgian Competition Authority published a press release according to which it investigates whether Proximus had abused a dominant position by acquiring edpnet. Although the acquisition did not have to be notified, the BCA feels compelled, with reference to the European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) landmark Towercast judgment, to review the transaction under abuse of the aspect of dominance. The BCA is thus following up on recent considerations regarding more effective control of so-called “killer acquisitions”, i.e., the protection of competition against innovation-inhibiting mergers of large, strong companies with small, innovative competitors, which do not require merger control notification due to the low turnover of the target company.

The Annual Compliance Conference begins next week and attracts over 6,000 in-house senior legal and compliance professionals from across the world. This leading compliance conference will be held across five weeks from 6 September – 6 October 2022. We will be virtually delivering our cutting-edge insights and guidance on key global compliance, investigations and ethics issues. Our global experts will provide practical insights and analysis on significant developments:
• anti-bribery
• corruption and economic crime
• customs and FTAs
• ESG, supply chain and product compliance
• antitrust and competition
• export controls, sanctions and foreign investment

Click here to view the full agenda and register your interest in joining us virtually at this must attend global compliance conference for senior in-house legal and compliance professionals.

On 21 September 2022, colleagues from the German Baker McKenzie offices will host a webinar exploring current developments in German and European Antitrust Law. The event will be in German only.

Annual Compliance Conference

Our popular Annual Compliance Conference, which attracts over 6,000 in-house senior legal and compliance professionals from across the world, will be held across five weeks from 6 September – 6 October 2022. We will be virtually delivering our cutting-edge insights and guidance on key global compliance, investigations and ethics issues. Our global experts will provide practical insights and analysis on significant developments across:
– anti-bribery
– corruption and economic crime
– customs and FTAs
– ESG, supply chain and product compliance
– antitrust and competition
– export controls, sanctions and foreign investment

Click https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/insight/events/2022/10/annual-compliance-conference to register your interest in joining us virtually at this must attend global compliance conference for senior in-house legal and compliance professionals.

In this event, we will give you a comprehensive overview of the most important developments of the last year in German and European antitrust law. Please note that this event will be held in German only.