The Paris Court of Appeal has ruled. French justice is competent to examine the dispute between the Belgian purchasing center Eurelec, co-owned by the distributor E. Leclerc, and Bercy. Since 2019, the Ministry of Economy has demanded a fine of more than 117 million euros for restrictive competition practices.
Based on an investigation by the Anti-Fraud Directorate (DGCCRF), the Ministry of Economy and Finance had appealed to the Paris commercial court to obtain the sentencing of a record civil fine of 117.3 million euros to four entities of the E. Leclerc movement, including two companies based in Belgium that challenged the jurisdiction of the French courts.
Let us remember that the French sanctions against the European purchasing centers were annulled in the past by the European authorities because they were considered incompetent in the matter.
End of 2022, The Court of Justice of the European Union (CUEJ) ruled in favor of the European purchasing center of the E.Leclerc group against Bercy, accusing him of not respecting French legislation.
A sentence that comes a few hours after Bruno Le Maire threatened two European purchasing centers. During a press conference held this Wednesday in Matignon, the Minister of Economy assured that two power plants that evade French legislation run the risk of “several tens of millions of euros” in fines.
Source: BFM TV
