Creation of a new alliance between purchasing bodies

5.4.2018

Question for written answer E-002009-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Michel Dantin (PPE)

In its answer of 14 February 2018 to Question E-006833/2017, the European Commission confirmed that it had carried out inspections at the premises of supermarket chains and supermarket-chain alliances, in France and in Belgium. The European Parliament had called upon the competition authorities to address the concerns raised over the cumulative impact of the concentration of the distribution of alliances of large distributors at a national level, and their development at an international and European level, which could lead to possible strategic alignments in the retail industry.

This week, Auchan and Casino have announced the creation of a new alliance between their purchasing bodies, leading to the dissolution of INCA-Achats and Alliance (Auchan and Système U).

1. Could this change in the alliances landscape have an impact on the ongoing investigations, which are linked to the inspections carried out during the week of 20 February 2017?

2. Taking into account the fluidity of the composition of alliances and the risk of strategic alignments (comparison of conditions and counterparties obtained), can it be said that the tools and procedures under the competition law are out-of-date and should be reformed in order to deal with these developments?