The Hellenic Competition Commission fines a retailer for resale price maintenance and other infringements within its franchise network (Carrefour Marinopoulos)

On 6th April 2010, the Hellenic Competition Commission (“Epitropi Antagonismou”, hereinafter: “HCC”) issued a decision on the merits by which it imposed a fine on the retailer Carrefour Marinopoulos S.A. (hereinafter: “Carrefour”) for infringements detected within its franchise network, namely resale price maintenance, restriction of cross-supplies between members of the network, coupled with exclusive supply obligations and abuse of economic dependence. The fines imposed amounted totally to € 12,5 million. In late 2005 and 2006 two groups of franchisees filed a complaint with the HCC against Carrefour for alleged infringements of Article 1 para. 1 Law 703/77 (equivalent to Art. 101 para. 1 TFUE), as well as Article 2a Law 703/77. The latter provision was a peculiarity of Greek