On 15 June 2023, the European Commission announced its decision to close its antitrust investigation into potential anticompetitive practices in the wood pulp sector. The Commission had previously conducted unannounced inspections at the premises of several wood pulp producers. The Commission had initial concerns that the inspected companies may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices. After a thorough analysis and careful assessment of all the evidence gathered, the Commission has concluded that there is insufficient ground to further pursue the investigation.
A CRA team including Raphaël De Coninck and Christoph von Muellern advised a major wood pulp producer during the European Commission’s investigation.
For more information, please see the European Commission’s press release.