Norwegian financial sector: Liberalisation of e-payment services

We are assisting Trustly Group AB in a complaint matter before the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) in the largest pending competition case in Norway focused on one industry. The ESA launched an investigation into Finance Norway, DNB, Nordea and BankID in October 2016. The ESA is investigating the parties for potential violation of the EEA’s prohibition against cartels, by coordinating practises in order to block new e-payment services from the Norwegian market. The case must also be considered in view of the new PSD2 Directive, which will enter into effect in 2018. The European Commission launched corresponding competition cases against parties in the Netherlands and Poland, amongst others, in October 2017.

Grette advises clients in competition matters, as well as matters relating to the internal market in Norway and at the European level. Our assistance will, depending on the case, take the form of assistance with complaints, or assistance to companies that are under investigation or to companies wishing to file an exemption application with the competition authorities. We also assist companies that experience restrictions on their market access, in complaint matters before the ESA or otherwise.