This article was written by​ Dr Annalies Muscat and Dr Laura Spiteri.​ On 22 January 2019, the European Commission ("the Commission) fined MasterCard for limiting the possibility for retailers to benefit from lower interchange fees in other Member States.This follows the call for feedback on commitments offered by Visa and MasterCard regarding the competition concerns raised by inter-regional interchange fees for payment card transactions ( read more here ). The fine comes as a response to MasterCard's breach of competition rules, which MasterCard admitted to. Pri...

This article was written by​ Dr Annalies Muscat and Dr Laura Spiteri.​ The European Commission (the 'Commission') has adopted an e-commerce package that included the adoption of different laws with the aim of making it easier for European consumers to shop online throughout the European Union (the 'EU'). One of the measures adopted was Regulation 2018/302 on addressing unjustified geo-blocking and other forms of discrimination based on customers' nationality, place of residence or place of establishment within the internal market (the 'Regulation'). The Regul...

This article was written by​ Dr Annalies Muscat and Dr Laura Spiteri.​ Following the issue of a Statement of Objections by the European Commission (the 'Commission') against Visa and MasterCard regarding the competition concerns raised by inter-regional interchange fees ('inter-regional MIFs') for payment card transactions, the Commission is inviting any interested parties to comment on the commitments that have been proposed by Visa and MasterCard separately. Inter-regional MIFs are fees applicable to payments made in the European Economic Area (the 'EEA') u...

  Mamo TCV has been featured in the Global Legal Group's International Comparative Legal Guide to Cartels & Leniency. The guide covers issues in cartels and leniency laws and regulations in 27 jurisdictions, covering areas such as the legislative framework, investigative powers, sanctions, leniency, whistle-blowing procedures, plea bargaining arrangements, appeal processes and damages actions. The Guide is a collective effort among leading competition lawyers and is now in its twelfth edition. This is not the first time that Mamo TCV has been chosen to co...

This article was written by Dr. Annalies Muscat and Dr. Laura Spiteri. On the 29 May 2018, the Office for Competition ('the Office') issued a decision to accept commitments offered by St Edward's College and In Design (Malta) Limited. This appears to be the first commitments decision taken by the Office since the introduction of this procedure in 2011. The decision was taken under Article 12C(1) of the Competition Act ('the Act'), which states that where the Director General intends to adopt a decision requiring that an infringement be brought to an end and the un...