On 22 August 2020, the ban on abuse of economic dependence was implemented in Belgium (Article IV.2/1 of the Code of Economic Law). Now that almost a year has passed and the first judgments have been rendered, we assess what first lessons can be drawn from these judgments. The rulings show that the ban is regularly relied upon in court and has lowered the hurdle for plaintiffs to make their case. Economic dependence is defined as "a subordinate position of...

The human consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are all too clear. The full economic impact of the various government lockdowns in place around the world are yet to emerge. However, even at this stage it is certain that the impact on the global economy will be massive: probably beyond any of our experiences. The impact will be felt everywhere, including on the private insurers with whom we place our clients’ business. What shape will these insurers be in when...

On Wednesday, European Commission Vice-Presidents Valdis Dombrovskis and Margrethe Vestager, joined by Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton presented an update to the Commission’s Industrial Strategy which had been adopted shortly before the coronavirus crisis hit the continent. It is intended to boost the EU’s economic recovery and counteract various technological and industrial dependencies towards Asia and North America, which had proved to be a significant problem during the health crisis.    With this strategy, the Commission aims to continue developing a more effective industrial policy and intervene more actively in the market. This involves targeted state support for specific industries to keep or re-shore production to the EU. Breton announced...

This week’s special newsletter provides an overview of notable changes in Canadian and American immigration over the month of March, including all measures directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is the latest news as of May 6th 2021. CANADA New pathway to permanent residency for over 90,000 essential temporary workers and international graduates Effective May 6, 2021, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will begin accepting applications under the following three (3) streams: 20,000 applications for temporary workers in health care ...

Companies involved in M&A deals falling below the EU and national notification thresholds need to think twice about their deal’s potential impact on competition from now on. The Commission has kept its promise to tackle (non-notifiable) killer acquisitions and published Guidance on its upward referral mechanism. The Guidance has already been put to the test through a national referral of the (non-notifiable) Illumina/Grail acquisition to EU level. Until it is clear whether the EU courts share the Commission’s views, companies – particularly in the...

It seems a paradox, but in reality it can happen that modern cars, despite being increasingly reliable and powerful, sometimes become weaker as a result of the ever-growing number of their electrical functions. Up until the 1980s, a car would often break down because of a punctured tyre or a mechanical failure. Over recent years, however, a battery malfunction has become the most common problem when a car comes to a stop on the road. There are some indisputable analyses:...