The European Commission in May launched an inquiry into electronic commerce as part of the digital single-market strategy that is one of the commission’s political priorities. European Union Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager commented that E.U. citizens “face too many barriers to accessing goods and services online across borders.”
The e-commerce inquiry will likely examine at least two issues: geo-blocking and restrictions on selling through online platforms. Recent member state competition law cases illustrate the kind of issues that the commission’s directorate general of competition (DGComp) may examine. Given the different approaches taken by member-state competition authorities, the commission also may use this opportunity to provide guidance and achieve uniformity.
