Groupe Eurotunnel to appeal the decision of the Competition Commission to prohibit the activity of French ferry company MyFerryLink
The Competition Commission has decided, on 6 June 2013, to prohibit Groupe Eurotunnel from operating a ferry activity from the port of Dover.
Groupe Eurotunnel will immediately appeal this decision which the group finds incomprehensible and seriously disproportionate. In reality this decision:
Is not based on any concrete facts, but solely upon a random association of virtual hypothesis,
Restructures the maritime activity across the Straits of Dover into a duopoly, thereby disadvantaging consumers,
Prohibits access to a port, in total contradiction with the freedom of movement incarnate in Europe,
Deprives the Ports of Dover and Calais of significant revenues,
Ignores the ruling of the Paris Commercial Court linking the sale of the assets of SeaFrance with a requirement not to re-sell them for a period of five years and is in contradiction with the decision of the French Competition Authority.
Jacques Gounon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Eurotunnel SA, stated:
“This decision by the Competition Commission will reduce the choice of services across the Straits of Dover to the detriment of the consumer. It will inevitably lead to an increase in the price of a crossing”.
