Judicial review · corpus
Do the Commission's merger decisions survive on appeal?
Across the appealed subset the Commission usually wins, but the losses are landmarks.
Only a fraction of merger decisions are ever taken to court, and this looks only at those that were: the appealed subset, not all mergers. Read it as illustrative of that subset, not a base rate.
Most actions are dismissed: the decision is upheld. What makes the courts matter is the tail, the handful of cases where the Commission's decision was annulled or partially annulled, and the appeals where a lower court's judgment was itself set aside.
Rare, but decisive. Among the decisions that fell are the ones that reshaped the standard of proof: Airtours, Schneider/Legrand, and the CK Telecoms / Hutchison saga (M.7612).
Opens the Analyst with this question. Free to try: five questions, no account needed.
The data behind it
Data as of
Read from the database when this page was made, not typed in by hand. The figures change as decisions and judgments are added.
- 58
- cases reviewed by EU courts
- 106
- court proceedings
- 8
- decisions annulled, in full or in part
Open an outcome to see which cases are in it.
Annulled8 (7 cases)
- 31/01/2024 T-583/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8947 · NIDEC / WHIRLPOOL (EMBRACO BUSINESS)
- 28/05/2020 T-399/16 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.7612 · HUTCHISON 3G UK / TELEFONICA UK
- 26/10/2017 T-394/15 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.7000 · LIBERTY GLOBAL / ZIGGO
- 13/09/2010 T-452/04 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.2978 · LAGARDERE / NATEXIS / VUP
- 28/09/2004 T-310/00 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.1741 · MCI WORLDCOM / SPRINT°
- 22/10/2002 T-310/01 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.2283 · SCHNEIDER / LEGRAND
- 22/10/2002 T-77/02 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.2283 · SCHNEIDER / LEGRAND
- 06/06/2002 T-342/99 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.1524 · AIRTOURS / FIRST CHOICE
Partially annulled1 (1 case)
- 22/09/2021 T-425/18 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.7993 · ALTICE / PT PORTUGAL (Art. 14.2 proc.)
Set aside on appeal6 (3 cases)
- 26/06/2025 C-469/23 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 26/06/2025 C-466/23 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 26/06/2025 C-485/23 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 26/06/2025 C-484/23 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 09/11/2023 C-746/21 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.7993 · ALTICE / PT PORTUGAL (Art. 14.2 proc.)
- 13/07/2023 C-376/20 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.7612 · HUTCHISON 3G UK / TELEFONICA UK
Upheld (dismissed)72 (44 cases)
- 03/06/2026 T-1119/23 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.11184 · VIVENDI / LAGARDERE (Procédure Art. 14(2))
- 03/06/2026 T-1097/23 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.11184 · VIVENDI / LAGARDERE (Procédure Art. 14(2))
- 19/03/2026 C-178/24 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.8870 · E.ON / INNOGY
- 26/06/2025 C-464/23 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 13/11/2024 T-58/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8864 · VODAFONE / CERTAIN LIBERTY GLOBAL ASSETS
- 13/11/2024 T-64/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8864 · VODAFONE / CERTAIN LIBERTY GLOBAL ASSETS
- 13/11/2024 T-692/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.9674 · VODAFONE ITALIA / TIM / INWIT JV
- 04/10/2024 C-581/22 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.8713 · TATA STEEL / THYSSENKRUPP / JV
- 20/12/2023 T-64/21 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8870 · E.ON / INNOGY
- 20/12/2023 T-65/21 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8870 · E.ON / INNOGY
- 20/12/2023 T-56/21 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8870 · E.ON / INNOGY
- 20/12/2023 T-62/21 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8870 · E.ON / INNOGY
- 20/12/2023 T-55/21 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8870 · E.ON / INNOGY
- 20/12/2023 T-59/21 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8870 · E.ON / INNOGY
- 20/12/2023 T-61/21 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8870 · E.ON / INNOGY
- 20/12/2023 T-60/21 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8870 · E.ON / INNOGY
- 20/12/2023 T-58/21 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8870 · E.ON / INNOGY
- 20/12/2023 T-53/21 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8870 · E.ON / INNOGY
- 14/06/2023 T-585/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.9014 · PKN ORLEN / GRUPA LOTOS
- 17/05/2023 T-312/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 17/05/2023 T-313/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 17/05/2023 T-319/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 17/05/2023 T-315/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 17/05/2023 T-317/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 22/06/2022 T-584/19 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8713 · TATA STEEL / THYSSENKRUPP / JV
- 18/05/2022 T-251/19 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8900 · WIELAND / AURUBIS ROLLED PRODUCTS / SCHWERMETALL
- 18/05/2022 T-609/19 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8179 · CANON / TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION (Art. 14.2 proc.)
- 20/10/2021 T-240/18 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8672 · EASYJET / CERTAIN AIR BERLIN ASSETS
- 20/10/2021 T-296/18 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8633 · LUFTHANSA / CERTAIN AIR BERLIN ASSETS
- 05/10/2020 T-380/17 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.7878 · HEIDELBERGCEMENT / SCHWENK / CEMEX HUNGARY / CEMEX CROATIA
- 04/03/2020 C-10/18 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.7184 · MARINE HARVEST / MORPOL (Art. 14.2 proc.)
- 23/05/2019 T-370/17 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.7978 · VODAFONE / LIBERTY GLOBAL / DUTCH JV
- 16/01/2019 C-265/17 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.6570 · UPS / TNT EXPRESS
- 09/10/2018 T-43/16 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.7018 · TELEFONICA DEUTSCHLAND / E-PLUS
- 26/10/2017 T-704/14 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.7184 · MARINE HARVEST / MORPOL (Art. 14.2 proc.)
- 28/01/2016 C-514/14 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.2978 · LAGARDERE / NATEXIS / VUP
- 13/05/2015 T-162/10 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.5440 · LUFTHANSA / AUSTRIAN AIRLINES
- 03/07/2014 C-84/13 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.4994 · ELECTRABEL / COMPAGNIE NATIONALE DU RHONE
- 11/12/2013 T-79/12 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.6281 · MICROSOFT / SKYPE
- 12/12/2012 T-332/09 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.4994 · ELECTRABEL / COMPAGNIE NATIONALE DU RHONE
- 06/11/2012 C-551/10 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.2978 · LAGARDERE / NATEXIS / VUP
- 06/11/2012 C-553/10 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.2978 · LAGARDERE / NATEXIS / VUP
- 13/09/2010 T-279/04 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.2978 · LAGARDERE / NATEXIS / VUP
- 06/07/2010 T-342/07 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.4439 · RYANAIR / AER LINGUS
- 06/07/2010 T-411/07 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.4439 · RYANAIR / AER LINGUS
- 19/06/2009 T-269/03 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.2903 · DAIMLER CHRYSLER / DEUTSCHE TELEKOM / JV
- 19/06/2009 T-48/04 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.2903 · DAIMLER CHRYSLER / DEUTSCHE TELEKOM / JV
- 07/05/2009 T-151/05 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.3605 · SOVION / HMG
- 04/02/2009 T-145/06 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.3796 · OMYA / J.M. HUBER PCC
- 30/04/2008 T-65/08 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.4685 · ENEL / ACCIONA / ENDESA
- 18/12/2007 C-202/06 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.2650 · HANIEL / CEMENTBOUW / JV (CVK)
- 09/07/2007 T-282/06 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.4071 · APOLLO / AKZO NOBEL IAR
- 09/03/2007 C-188/06 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.2283 · SCHNEIDER / LEGRAND
- 14/07/2006 T-417/05 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.3986 · GAS NATURAL / ENDESA
- 04/07/2006 T-177/04 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.3280 · AIR FRANCE / KLM
- 23/02/2006 T-282/02 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.2650 · HANIEL / CEMENTBOUW / JV (CVK)
- 14/12/2005 T-210/01 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.2220 · GENERAL ELECTRIC / HONEYWELL
- 14/12/2005 T-209/01 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.2220 · GENERAL ELECTRIC / HONEYWELL
- 21/09/2005 T-87/05 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.3440 · ENI / EDP / GDP (4064)
- 22/06/2004 C-42/01 · Court of Justice · challenge to the decisionM.2054 · SECIL / HOLDERBANK / CIMPOR
- 30/09/2003 T-346/02 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.2845 · SOGECABLE / CANALSATÉLITE DIGITAL / VÍA DIGITAL
- 08/07/2003 T-374/00 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.2045 · SALZGITTER / MANNESMANNRÖHREN-WERKE (See ECSC.1336)
- 03/04/2003 T-342/00 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.1628 · TOTALFINA / ELF AQUITAINE°
- 20/03/2002 T-175/99 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.1168 · DHL / DEUTSCHE POST
- 15/12/1999 T-22/97 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.784 · KESKO / TUKO
- 25/03/1999 T-102/96 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.619 · GENCOR / LONRHO
- 04/03/1999 T-87/96 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.711 · GENERALI / UNICREDITO
- 27/11/1997 T-290/94 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.430 · PROCTER & GAMBLE / VP SCHICKEDANZ (II)
- 11/01/1996 C-480/93 · Court of Justice · appeal of the General Court judgmentM.159 · MEDIOBANCA / GENERALI
- 27/04/1995 T-96/92 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.190 · NESTLE / PERRIER
- 27/04/1995 T-12/93 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.190 · NESTLE / PERRIER
- 19/05/1994 T-2/93 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.259 · BRITISH AIRWAYS / TAT
Inadmissible18 (13 cases)
- 07/04/2025 T-507/24 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.10962 · KINGSPAN GROUP (Art. 14(1) proceedings)
- 20/12/2023 T-63/21 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8870 · E.ON / INNOGY
- 17/05/2023 T-321/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 17/05/2023 T-314/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 17/05/2023 T-322/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 17/05/2023 T-316/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 17/05/2023 T-320/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 17/05/2023 T-318/20 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.8871 · RWE / E.ON ASSETS
- 09/10/2018 T-884/16 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.7018 · TELEFONICA DEUTSCHLAND / E-PLUS
- 20/01/2012 T-315/10 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.5786 · FRANCAISE DES JEUX / GROUPE LUCIEN BARRIERE / JV
- 12/10/2011 T-224/10 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.5549 · EDF / SEGEBEL
- 20/10/2009 T-89/06 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.1378 · HOECHST / RHONE - POULENC
- 02/09/2009 T-57/07 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.3696 · E.ON / MOL
- 18/09/2006 T-350/03 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.2947 · VERBUND / ENERGIE ALLIANZ
- 31/01/2006 T-48/03 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.2283 · SCHNEIDER / LEGRAND
- 25/05/2005 T-443/03 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.2845 · SOGECABLE / CANALSATÉLITE DIGITAL / VÍA DIGITAL
- 22/03/2000 T-125/97 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.794 · COCA-COLA ENTERPRISES / AMALGAMATED BEVERAGES GREAT BRITAIN
- 28/10/1993 T-83/92 · General Court · challenge to the decisionM.159 · MEDIOBANCA / GENERALI
Pending1 (1 case)
- 06/03/2008 C-196/07 · Court of Justice · otherM.4197 · E.ON / ENDESA (Art. 21)
Covers only cases whose decision drew an EU court proceeding: the APPEALED SUBSET, not the analysed corpus and not all EC mergers. Annulments are rare and famous, so treat these as illustrative, not a base rate. reviewed_cases is the honest denominator for any court figure.