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Antitrust: restrictive agreements and dominance

The Commission did not issue any notable antitrust decisions in 2017, but it has announced the initiation of infringement proceedings as follows:

  1. The Commission announced that it initiated infringement proceedings against MTN Cyprus Ltd for possible infringement of Section 6(1)(b) of the Competition Law. The aforementioned undertaking holds a dominant position by way of its mobile telephony network, and has been accused by the complainant, Golden Telemedia Ltd, that it unlawfully blocked the access of its subscription-based clientele to the premium rate services offered by the complainant.
  2. The Commission announced that it initiated infringement proceedings against Henkel AG & Co KGaA and its subsidiary GPM Henkel Ltd for possible infringement of Section 6(1)(b) of the Competition Law and Article 102 of the TFEU. The aforementioned undertakings hold a dominant position in the market for heavy duty detergent cleaners and have been accused by the complainant, KAC Constantinides Trading Ltd, of imposing restrictive marketing practices for the importation and sale of Dixan products in Cyprus.
  3. The Commission announced that it initiated infringement proceedings against Hermes Airports Ltd for possible infringement of Section 6(1)(a) of the Competition Law. The aforementioned undertaking, as the operator of Larnaca International Airport, holds a dominant position in the market for the provision of administration services at Larnaca International Airport and in the market for the provision of valet parking areas within the airport so that other companies may offer their services. A Princess Airport Parking Ltd, C&A Stop and Fly Ltd and X Xanthos Airport Parking Services Ltd filed a complaint with the Commission that Hermes Airports Ltd employed certain practices and imposed abusive conditions on companies that wished to offer parking and valet parking services at the airport.